COPROBIUS LÆVIS. Niger opacus lævis, clypeo emarginato, thorace postice
rotundato, elytrorum lateribus humeralibus haud incisis. (Long. Corp. 9
lin.)
SYN. Scarabæus Lævis, _Drury, App. vol._ 2. (1773.) _Oliv. Ent._ 1. 3.
_p._ 160. _No._ 197. _t._ 10. _f._ 89.
Scarabæus Volvens, _Fabr. Ent. Syst._ 1. _p._ 66. _No._ 221. _Syst.
Eleuth._ 1. _p._ 60. _No._ 26. (Ateuchus v.) (Exclus. syn. Scar.
pilularius, _Linn._) _Schon. Syn. Ins._ 1. 1. _p._ 62.
HABITAT: New York, Maryland.
Entirely black, shining like pitch on the under side. Head broad,
flattish, and smooth. Thorax margined, smooth, and convex. Scutellum
obsolete. Elytra margined, smooth, not reaching to the anus, and rather
longer than the thorax. Anterior tibiæ having three teeth on their outer
sides, above {74}which are several very minute ones. Intermediate and
posterior thighs and tibiæ smaller than are usually observed among those
lamellicorn beetles which have no scutellum.
The advantages resulting from the modern method of investigation adopted in
Natural History in general, and especially in Entomology, are no where more
conspicuous than in the case of the present species of dung-rolling beetles
or _pillularii_, as they were aptly termed by Pliny and other old writers;
the present species inhabiting North America, having been long confounded
with an inhabitant of Southern Europe, which indeed possesses a similarity
in general appearance and habits, but belongs to a distinct genus. Linnæus
applied the term pilularius specifically to the species inhabiting Italy
and Spain; referring, however, to Catesby's Carolina, pl. 11., so that it
is evident that this writer had never seen the North American insect.
Schonher however remarks, "scarabæus pillularius Linn. pertinet ad At.
volvens Fabr;"[28] whilst Fabricius, although quoting Drury and De Geer
(who both figure the North American species) has increased the confusion by
giving Southern Europe as its habitat. Under these circumstances I have
done our author the justice to revert to his specific name; his being
certainly the earliest systematic specific reference to the American
species, which may be distinguished from the European one by the following
particulars:--
GENUS. Coprobius, _Latreille_.
(Elytra entire at the sides; intermediate tibiæ with two spurs.)