428 INSECT A. 



have small depressed mandibles, as if divided longitudinally into 

 two parts, the inner of which is membranous, and the other corne- 

 ous; there are no sensible dentations at their superior extremity. 

 The labrum is concealed, or but little apparent(l). The maxillae 

 have frequently but small dentations. The body is short, depressed, 

 and wide; the elytra are narrowed posteriorly on the outer side. The 

 two last tarsi usually have but one hook; in those where they all 

 have two — Dicrania — the first joint of the anterior tarsi is prolonged 

 inferiorly, and presents on the inner side a stout, hooked tooth. 



M. Leon Dufour remarks that the digestive canal of the Hopliae is 

 much shorter than that of the Cetoniae. The chylific ventricle is 

 smooth and flexuous. The small intestine is shorter than in Melo- 

 lontha, and frequently presents an ovoid inflation at its origin. It is 

 followed by an elongated colon, destitute of valvular anfractuosities. 

 The rectum is separated from it by a well marked collar. The or- 

 gans of generation hardly differ from those of Melolontha. 



Dicrania, Lepel. and Serv. 



Two equal and bifid hooks to all the tarsi, the first joint of the 

 two anterior ones prolonged inferiorly into a hooked tooth; the body 

 very smooth and without scales; the scutellum tolerably large; two 

 stout spines at the extremity of the four posterior tibiae; the inferior 

 extremity of the two last tibiae dilated. These Insects inhabit 

 Brazil(2). 



HoPLIA, Illig. 



A single hook to the two posterior tarsi; the ttvo of the others 

 unequal and bifid; extremity of the four last tibiae crowned with 

 small spines, none of which is perceptibly longer than another. The 

 body is nearly square or almost semicircular, and the thighs of the 

 two posterior legs are moderately inflated, their tibiae long, straight, 

 and without a hooked tooth at the extremity. 



H.formosa, Illig.; Melolontha farinosa^ Fab.; 01iv.,Col., 1,5, 

 ii, 14, a, c. Nine joints in the antennae; the body eiitirely co- 

 vered with brilliant silvery scales, the upper ones reflecting a 

 violet blue tint; the lower ones somewhat greenish or gilt. — 

 This most beautiful of all the known species is common in the 

 south of France along the banks of brooks and rivers. 



( 1 ) In the latter of the preceding subgenera this part also, viewed from before, 

 merely presents a linear, transverse edge, either entire or slightly emarginated 

 in the middle. 



(2) Encyc. Method., article Scarabeides. 



