CHAPTER VIII. 



ON THE FIVE FAMILIES OF PETALOCERA WHICH 

 FEED ON GREEN OR LIVING VEGETABLE MAT- 

 TER. 



I HE Thalerophagous Petalocera, as far as has yet been 

 observed, have never more than ten joints or less than nine 

 to their antennae ; so that they possess neither so many or 

 so few as some of the insects which compose the other 

 circle. The clava, which is always rather elongate, ex- 

 cept in a few insects of the family of Glaphyrida, is here 

 often composed of more than three joints, which we have 

 never seen to be the case with the saprophagous insects. 

 The feet are also in general less robust than in the last 

 circle, but in the families of Rittelidce and Anoplognathida 

 they sometimes arrive at an enormous size a . The ungues 

 of the tarsi are also often divided ; and the insects on 

 the whole are of a gay appearance, generally possessing 

 much metallic splendour. 



Fam. VI. RUTELIDJE. 



Antennae b decem-articulatcz ; 



a Such is the case with the famous Kanguroo Beetle (Scaralteus Ma- 

 cropus, Francillon; Celonia Macropus, Kirby) and the Melolonlha chryso- 

 chlora of Humboldt, the natural situation of both which insects is between 

 the types of the Rutelidte and Anoplcgnathidts. 



b If the genus Hcxodon should, as is stated by Olivier, really possess 



