200 
NATTJEAL HISTOEY OP 
nal insects, and their appearance is agreeable, as in- 
dicating the grateful return of spring. 
The Onthophagi are known by having the ter- 
minal joint of the maxillary palpus attenuated at 
each end, and truncate — the same joint in the labial 
pair being somewhat kidney-shaped and truncate; 
by the short thick body, with the thorax wider than 
long, and nearly orbicular, with a wide and deep notch 
in its anterior margin ; and by having the contour of 
the head entire or slightly emarginate. There is 
no perceptible scutellum. As in the following ge- 
nus, the four posterior tibiae are always dilated at 
their extremities, and nearly in the form of an elon- 
gate triangle. The sexes are distinguished by some 
horn-like process or tubercles, which rise from the 
head or thorax of the male. 
ONTHOPHAGUS DILLWYNII. 
PLATE X. Fig. 2. 
Onthoph. Dillwynii, Kirby. — Sieph. Ulus, of British En- 
tomology , vol. iii. 174, pi* 18, fig. 6. 
This insect is closely allied to the better known 
species named O. nuchicornis . It has been found 
near Gravesend, and in the neighbourhood of Swan- 
sea, by L. W. Dillwyn, Esq. after whom it was 
named by Dr Leach. It is of a brassy-black colour, 
and more or less covered with fine short hairs. The 
thorax is thickly covered with minute granulations, 
