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BRITISH BEETLES. 
The ScARAB/EiDji are divided into two sub-sections, 
founded on the position of the abdominal spiracles, 
which are always seven in number on each side ; the 
first being at times easily seen (as in Copris and Geo- 
trupes), and at times hidden between the metathorax 
and abdomen, and the remainder varying as follows: — 
In the Scarabseidse Laparosticti (including the Co- 
prina, Aphodiina, Geotrupina , and Trngina) they are all 
placed in the membrane connecting the dorsal and ven- 
tral corneous plates of the abdomen, and consequently 
covered entirely by the closed elytra ; and in the 
Scarabseidx Pleurosiicti (including the Melolonthina, 
Sericina, Hopliina, Rutelina , and Cetoniina ) some of 
them are placed in the membrane connecting the 
dorsal and ventral plates of the abdomen, but the 
greater number are situated on the upper side of the 
ventral segments themselves, with the last spiracle at 
least uncovered when the elytra are closed. There is 
this further difference, that in the Pleurosticti (with 
the exception of certain of the exotic Hopliina) the 
ligula is horny, and soldered to the mentum ; and in 
the larva the two lobes of the maxillae are soldered 
together; whilst in the Laparosticti the ligula is 
leathery or membranous, and distinct from the 
mentum, and the lobes of the maxillae are not sol- 
dered in the larva. In the Pleurosticti, also, the 
Cetoniina and Rutelina have the three last pairs of 
abdominal spiracles diverging strongly outwards ; 
whilst in the Melolonthina, Sericina, and Hopliina 
the divergence outwards is very slight ; the last 
three tribes are by some authors formed into a third 
division, intermediate between the other two, called 
the Scarabseidse Melolonthini. 
