OF THE LINN/EAN SCARABiEI. 



29 



Such an arrangement is important, were it only that by 

 its means we find connected in the most satisfactory man- 

 ner the RutelldcE, with the Cetoniida, the Geotrupida with 

 the Dynastidce, the Dynastidce with the Anoplognathida, 

 the Trogida with the Aphodiida, the Dynastidce with the 

 Recticera, — all which are separated according to the com- 

 mon systems, although their affinity must be obvious to 

 the most careless observer. 



An attentive observation of the two circles has led me 

 also to suspect that each of them is divisible into two 

 others, or, which is the same thing, that the insects com- 

 posing the extremity of each column approach in their 

 general construction to those which form the middle of the 

 same column. Thus the genus Hybosorus, MacL., in 

 the family of Geotrupidce, resembles Mgialia and Orphnus*; 

 while the African genus Popillia, Leach M.SS. ,(Melolontha 

 hipunctata, Oliv.,) and the well known Chinese insect 

 Meloloniha tiridis, Fab., which forms the new genus Eu- 

 chlora, evidently connect the Rutelidce with the Melolcn- 

 thida. The inferences that might be deduced from such 

 a disposition, were it perfectly established, are highly in- 

 teresting ; but the present perhaps is not the moment for 

 enlarging on them. 



a These as well as the other affinities mentioned in this chapter will be 

 found demonstrated at length in the Appendix. 



