The Aphodii or dung-beetles form an extensive genus, and are 
widely distributed over every quarter of the globe, but a very large 
portion of the species are European, and nearly sixty of them are 
recorded as British. 
The larvae, which according to Latreille are similar to those of 
Melolontha and Oryctes, are fleshy, annulated, and slightly hairy, 
with a hard horny head, 6 pectoral feet, and a vesicle at the apex 
of the abdomen : they live inactively in dung, upon which they feed. 
The beetles may be seen in the spring and autumnal months, flying 
in the sunshine, sometimes in swarms, even in the high roads and in 
pastures, or wherever horses, cows, or sheep, have left their dung, 
in which the beetles burrow and deposit their eggs. 
The equal distances at which all the coxae are inserted, at once 
separate Aphodius from Onthophagus (pi. 52.), andCopris (pi. 4 14-.), 
to which it is very nearly allied ; it is likewise further distinguished 
by its elongated form and distinct scutellum, and from the latter 
genus also by its entire clypeus and filiform jJalpi. 
It has been found convenient to divide the Aphodii into the fol- 
lowing sections : 
1 . Clypeus tuherculated. 
* Scutellum large. 
1 . Fossor Linn . — Don , .2. pl.^ll.f. 3. — Sturm. Deut. Faun. 1 . 
tab. 12. 
Very common from March to the end of July. 
** Scutellum small. 
6. Scrutator Fab.- — Pams. 31. 1. — rubidus Oliv. 
In the late Mr. Atkinson’s cabinet of Leeds. 
16. tessulatus Payk.—Creutz. tab. 1 .f. 4. — contaminatus Panz. 47.7. 
April, in dung, and in December, flying on Southdown near 
Brighton, Mr. Walton. 
25. porcus Fab. — turpis Mars. — ruficrus Mars. var. 
April and September, Mousehold heath, Norwich ; and Suffolk 
in October. I met with it in abundance flying in the sunshine, at 
the top of the cliff near Ramsgate. 
2. Clypeus smooth. 
26. rufipes Linn. — Don, 12. 417. 4. — Pz. 47. 10. — oblongus III. 
33. villosus Schon. Syn. 1. 83. 60. — Curt. Brit. Ent.pl. 27. 
This is an extremely rare species on the Continent, and the only 
British specimen known is the one figured, which I found dead not 
far from the Devil’s dyke, near Newmarket, in August 1814, and I 
think I should have captured more if it had been earlier in the season: 
I am, however, informed by the Rev. L. Jenyns, that he has never 
succeeded in finding it, although he has searched very diligently. 
37. plagiatus Linn.— Panz . 43. 6. 
On reeds in the summer at Wisbeach, Cambridgeshire. 
39. Pecari Fab. — Panz. 31. 3. June in dung, Windsor. 
41. Scrofa Fab. — Panz . 47. 12. — platycephalus Mars. p. 56. 
Said to have been taken by Dr. Leach at Pen tire Point, Cornwall. 
For specimens of the local and beautiful Pasque flower or Hill 
tulip, Anemone Pulsatilla , I am indebted to my kind friend the 
Rev. J. S. Henslow, who gathered them on Newmarket heath. 
