522 INSECTA. 



shutting in tlic same iiiaimer ; sorncthn^'S forming a concentric, contorted clnh, the first or liic basal 

 joint of the mass heing in such case semi-iiifundilniUform, and receiving the others; .^.onielimcs 

 arranged perpendicularly to the axis, and forming a kind of comlj. Tiie hudy is generally o\oid or 

 oval, and thick, the outer edge of the anterior tibia; is toothed, and the joints of the tarsi, except in 

 some males, are entire, and '>\ii)iont any hriisli or cushion beneath; llie anterior extremity of the head 

 is ad\'aiicrd nnd diUir;d, ici'nerally in the I'urni of a .shiehl ; tlic ni'^ntum is Ln.'nci'aliv large, and (■n\er.s 

 the tonguclel, or is incoi'porated \\ith it, ;iml licai's tin: palpi ; the in;iiidilih'> df many arc mi.Miilirainius, 

 a peculiarity not found in any other cidi'Optcrous insect. The njal^t; offrn iWtl'v.v from the females 

 either in the horns or tuiiercidar elevations of tlie thorax or head, or in tlie size of their maitdihh;:;. 



This fiimily is of very great extent, and one <if the most heanilfnl of the order, in res[tert to the 

 size of the body, the v;iriety in the form of the head and thorax in the dili'erent sexes, and often also 

 in those species which in the perfect state live upon vegetable substances, in respect to the brilliancy 

 of the metallic colours with "which they are ornamented. But the majority of the other species, which 

 subsist on decomposing vegetalde matter, as manure, Ian, or exercnientitious matter, are generally of 

 an uniform bruwn or Idack culour; sunn.' of the eoprophagous species, nevrrlheless, are not infeiior 

 in this respect to the iireceding. All have wings, and they ci'awl Ijut sh'wly. The larvie have the 

 body long, neai'ly ?,e'inieylindrieal, soft, nften transversely wrinkled, w liiti^li-coldiired, 1.2-joiiiUd, \\iih 

 the head scaly, ai'med witli strong jaws and six ^e;d\' feet. Each side i.if the liudy lias nine spiracles ; 

 the posterior extremity is thickened, rounded, and generaUy cin-ved I>eiieath, so that these larvcc 

 Ijaving the liack eon\c:v or arched, are not a'lle to extend theni^elves in a straight line, and crawl l.mt 

 badlv on a snionth surl'aee, and turnljle ^ide\\a^> or back do\'. nwanls at evci'y step. A general idea of 

 their form may be obtained from that of the grub so common in gartlens and pastures, which produces 

 the common CockchatFer. Some species do not change to pnpffi nntil they have passed tliree or t'onr 

 years as larvre ; they form for themselves in their retieats, -with the eartli or the debris of tiie male- 

 rials they have gnawed, a cocoon of an ovoid form, or in the shajie of an ehmgated ball, of which thu 

 particles are fastened together with a glutinous secretion. Tiieir food consists of dung, manure, tan, 

 the roots of vegetables, including sonu^ which are useful to Man, whence these insects occasionally 

 cause mucli loss to the cnlti\al.or. The nervous s\steui, considered iii the larva and imago states, 

 exhihits remarkable dilfercnces. 



We divide this family inlo two tribes, the anatomy of which, according to Dufour, is so diflercnt as 

 to raise them to tlic rank of tv.o distinct families, — [ScarabiCidt.); and Luca/iidi.:.;]. 



The iijst, tliat of the 



SCARAU.-EIDES, 



Possesses antennrc terminateil in the majority by a clul) composed of leallets eapahle of being shut np, 

 and in the others consisting of box-like julnls, eiilier in the form of a cone rever>ed, or neai'ly gloliu- 

 lar ; the mandibles arc alike, or nearly alil.e, in iIh; ^e.\(.■^, hut tlie heail am! lliorax of (he mahs often 

 cxhiljit prmnincnces of peculiar form ; sonn.'lJmcs also tiieir antennie are more d>c\eli.iped. Tiiis Irihc 

 corresponds with the genus 



ScARAB.EUS, Linnrens. 



^Ve divide this genus jntft uumemns smnll sections, founded upon the consideration of the mastica- 

 tory organs, antenna:, ami huhits, the distinction of whicli sections has hccn contirmed by tlie anato- 

 mical rescarclies of M. Dnfoiir. 



1. The Cnjjr()j;//'H//. or tiie SL'arab,eid.es of our lirst section, have Ihe antenna? generally composed of 

 eight or nine joinis, the last three of wliieii form the knoli ; the hihrnin and niandilTes are ineruhranous 

 and hidden. The ti-rminal lobe of tlie imi\lli;e is also of this consistence, broad, and cniAcd on the 

 upper edge ; tlie last joint of tlie maxillary palpi is always largest, and tlie last joint of the labial is 

 slenderer than the preceding, or very small, behind cacli of v,hich last palpi is a membranous in'odnc- 

 tion, or tongnelct. Tlie stiMaium offers nri ])ailiriilar piominenee, and the ehuvs of the tarsi are simple ; 

 the fore tarsi are .Tten wanting, either naturally or from heing worn away. 



Some of thi- ropro|,liagi have the two niidilh' h\'j:s much wider apart at the ha^e thiin the othcis ; 

 the laliial palpi very hairy, with the last joint minute ; the senlellum waiiliug, or very snnill. 



J(ri!diir'<,\\i:\>r\- iSr<,r"h.r>f., nf Mii- I,afiii;^ and Mm' ]j-.yy. Ilc/i.'c-fn/h.in/^ of llir (;reeI^s), ennsisls of spceifs 

 pecaiiar to tlic ulil world, w it h llicli;idy inimdcd, -;rM('r;dly dnpr-'ssed .i1h-i\ c, alik'- in Initli sc.\es ; aiilciin;r D-jninU'd, 



