OF THE LINN^AN SCARAB/EI. 15 



of our attention, from being the first attempt ever made to 



arrange these insects naUxrally, that I shall give it at 



length. 



" Scarabcei Flone famuli." 



^^ Anthophi/lU, nuptias plantarnm promovent ; auratus^ no- 

 bilis, maculatiis, littoralis, Jigulus, argenteus, libator, 

 squalidas, ulpinus, tmriegatus. 

 " Phyllophagi, larvas Lepidopterorumfugant ; melolontha, 



eremita, nasicornis, solstitialis, oblongus, minimus. 

 " Sfercorei, radices plantarum nutriunt; stercorarius, rer- 

 nalis, lunaris,Jimetarius." , 



The errors are obvious. But still this plan, faulty and 

 fancifiil as it was, must be allo\ved to have been the nearest 

 approach hitherto made to truth, and the deepest pene- 

 tration into that part of Entomology which is really the 

 province of the naturalist. 



De Geer has the honour of having been the first to per- 

 ceive all the advantages to be derived from the mode of ar- 

 rangement indicated by Scopoli. But, sensible of its im- 

 perfections, he instituted a new method of division, which 

 was truly worthy of this great physiologist, and remains a 

 striking proof of the advantage which he, in studying the 

 manners of these insects, had over those who were content 

 wth describing them from their cabinets *. His method of 

 distribution was into three families, as follows : 



1 . Scarahhs de terre. 



2. Scarabtcs des arbres, 



3. Scarahtes des fleurs. 



Oryctes and Trox were thus no longer, as by Scopoli, made 



* In tltis case, at least, De Geer has shown the futility of Fabricius's 

 opinion, "Nimis veto habitui adhasrerc est stultitiaiii loco sapientiae inve- 

 i.ire." 



