652 OM THE STUDY OF ENTOMOLOGY. 
structive pests of our cabinets, for if once they get among the speci- 
mens, the havoc they make is truly astonishing ; the birds are soon 
stripped of their feathers, and the insects fall to pieces ; these larvae 
are covered with bunches of diverging hairs, which enables them 
when caught to glide through your lingers, as though they were lu- 
bricated with oil ; scarcely any thing in the cabinet escapes them. 
De Geer even says they will feed upon horn. 
Family XXIII. — Histerid^e. — 5 Genera' 
1. Abreeus, 3. Hister, 5. Platisoma, 
2. Onthophilus, 4. Dendrophilus, 
Subsection II. — Lamellicornes. —With laminate Antennae. 
Familj^ XXIV. — Lucanidfe. — 4. Genera. 
1. Platycerus, 2. Dorcus, 3. Lucanns, 
4. Sinodendron, 
Family XXV. — Scarab(EID:E. — 3. Genera. 
1. Copris, 2. Onthophagus, 3. Oniticellus, 
Family XXVI. — Geotku'piDjE — Genera. 
1. Bolbocerus, 2. Typhaeus, 3. Geotrupes. 
Family XXVII. — Aphodiid/e. — 2. Genera. 
I. Aphodius, 2. Psammodius. 
Family XXVIII.— Trogid^— 3 Genera. 
1. ^gialia, 2. Trachyscelis Trox. 
Family XXIX. — DynastiDjE — 2. Genera. 
1. Oryctes, 2. Dynastes, 
Family XXX. — MelolonthiDjE....7 Genera. 
1. Serica 4. Melolontha, 7. Hoplia 
2. Omaloplia, 5. Anomala, 
3. Zanthevimia, 6. Anisoplia, 
One of the most destructive ravagers in our pastures is the larvae 
of the may-bug, or cock-chaffer, (Melolontha vulgaris) well known 
in the southern and midland districts of England, as well as Ireland, 
where it is called the Connought worm ; the perfect beetle lives but 
about eight or ten days. The female deposits her eggs in a cluster 
about a span below the surface of the earth, in a hole, which she digs 
for the pui'pose. The larvae continues to undergo various transfor- 
mations for three years, and makes its appearance about the begin- 
ning of May, in the fourth year, as a perfect beetle. To obtain a 
more perfect understanding of their economy, Rosel put some females 
