COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS. 
199 
such a prominent group in temperate and northern 
countries, and "compensate their want of bulk by 
the extent of their numbers. The males of seve- 
ral of the Onthophagi are strikingly distinguished 
by two slender horns rising from the hinder part 
of the head. One of the most remarkable in 
this respect has been named O. Taurus, from the 
resemblance these appendages 
bear, in form and curvature, to 
the horns of a bull. This will 
be seen from the annexed figure, 
which represents a front view of 
the head. 
These insects are common both to the new and 
old world, and extend from the tropics to the north- 
ern temperate zone. Several kinds likewise inhabit 
New Holland, where, however, they are by no means 
of frequent occurrence, although they form the prin- 
cipal coprophagous group found in that country. 
The rarity of these insects in New r Holland, as Mr 
Macleay observes, may be regarded as the natural 
consequence of that great peculiarity of the Austra- 
lian continent, namely, the want of all large herbi- 
vorous mammalia, except of the marsupial kind. 
Ten different species occur in Britain, but the 
southern part of the country seems to be nearly the 
limit of their extension northwards, as they become 
rare in the northern counties of England, and we 
have heard of no instance of their occurrence in Scot- 
land. Like many of their associates, they are ver- 
