ON FIVE FAMILIES OF PETALOCERA. bl 



rules and definitions, is an attempt as absurd as it would 

 be. to investigate truth by means of a set of prejudices. 

 He felt that the student in the more profound branches 

 of the science ought to have already paved the way 

 for this sort of research, by that intimate and extensive 

 knowledge of species which can always be most easily 

 acquired by artificial methods. We see, therefore, that 

 naturalists must always owe a large portion of gratitude 

 to those who may by the help of artificial systems have 

 made the productions of nature generally kno\vn : for it is 

 with the materials collected by the humble labours of these 

 indefatigable men, that the world can alone, expect that 

 the foundations of our knowledge with respect to nature 

 should ever be laid. 



Fam. I. GEOTRUPID^. // y 



Antennse decern vel undecim articulattz ; 



Articulo hasilari subconico, vix elongato; 

 Capitulo magiio, triphi/llo, suhgloboso. 



Labrum exsertum, crustaceum, transversum, suhquadra- 

 tum ; margine aiitico ciliato. 



Mandibulse exsertcz, cornetz, validissimcE, subtrigoncs, de- 

 pressa, ad apicem subaraiatte. 



Maxillae Crustacea;; margine interno vel apicali membra- 

 naceo aiit Jimbriato hirsuto. 



Palpi maxillares Jiliformes. 



Labium bipai'titutn, mento bi/ido vel integro. 



Caput lateribus utrinque ante oculos auriculatim sapkis 

 dilatatii; Cly^eo parvo, angulato, depresso. Corpus 

 orbiculato-ovale aut suborbiculare, undique convex- 

 urn. Thorax latius quam longius extensus; Scutello 

 E 2 



