MANDIBULATA. — COLEOPTERA. 



Family XVIL— SCAPHIDID.E, Mac Leay. 



Antenna generally longer than the thorax, distinctly thickened towards their ex- 

 tremities or somewhat abruptly clavate, the clava consisting of five joints, the 

 second of which, or the eighth from the base, is generally smaller and frequently 

 minute. Palpi, maxillary considerably exserted, subclavate or subulated. 

 Mandibles generally bidentate at the apex. Body thick, subelliptic, much 

 arched. Head immersed up to the eyes in the thorax, inflexed. Thorax 

 trapeziform, convex, immarginate. Legs elohgated, posterior sometimes 

 nearly as long as the body : tibiae subcylindric, usually unarmed, but with two 

 spurs at the apex ; tarsi pentamerous. 



The insects of this family, although at first sight they appear 

 Very dissimilar, are evidently closely allied; they feed upon putrid 

 or decaying animal and vegetable substances, and are very active : 

 the following genera have occurred in Britain, and may be re- 

 cognised by the subjoined external characters : 



{distinction: . 116. Scaphidium. 



ftruncata. Scutellum < 

 I (nullum: . » 117- Scaphisoma. 



Elytra \ 



f breves, arcuata : . 118. Myljechus. 



(jntegra. facutis. Antennce< 



Thoracis j (elongate. ( haud striata : 119. PtomaPHAGus. 



angidis I Elytra < plus minusve 



' \\ ( striata: 120. Catops. 



I 



(^obtusist .... 121. Choleva. 



Genus C-XVI. — Scaphidium Auctorum. 



Palpi filiform. Antenna slender at the base, with an abrupt elongate club 

 composed of five subhemispheric, nearly equal joints, the terminal one rounded 

 at the tip : head produced anteriorly: thorax large, its sides margined: body 

 stout, acuminated at each extremity: elytra margined, truncate: scutellum 

 distinct : legs with elongate, subcylindric, smooth tibia. 



There is but one indigenous species of this genus, which is 

 readily known from Scaphisoma by the exserted scutellum, and its 



such as Triplax and its affinities, have the third joint of the tarsi dilated as in 

 the Nitidulidffi, u gradual interchange of character usually observed on the 

 confines of allied groups, where the series is tolerably perfect. 



