TANYGNATHUS. 321 
TANYGNATHUS. 
Tanygnathus, Erichson, Kaif. Mark Brand. i. p. 417; Gen. et Spec. Staph. p. 288. 
Although this genus consists of only a dozen described species, yet it has a very wide 
distribution in the continental regions of both hemispheres, and even extends to 
Australia. ‘The species are very similar to one another, and it will be necessary for 
the sexes to be distinguished in order correctly to discriminate them; yet the most 
important sexual peculiarities, being of a rather unusual character, have hitherto 
escaped observation ; they consist of differences in those styles and tubes of the extre- 
mity of the hind body that form what is frequently called the segment of the genital 
armature. When the sexes have been thus distinguished it will be found that in 
certain species the males have the front femora armed with a remarkable comb-like 
organ, of which in other species there is no trace, and this character offers the only 
satisfactory mode of sectionizing the genus that I have been able to discover; two of 
the Central-American species possess this organ, while in the other two it is absent, 
and it is also wanting in the European 7. terminalis. 
Mr. Champion informs me that these insects are found in very wet places, in the 
same manner as the Acylophort. 
1. Tanygnathus antennalis. (Tab. VII. fig. 21.) 
Piceus ; antennis elytrisque fuscis, illis elongatis; palpis testaceis, pedibus rufis ; elytris dense punctatis, 
Long. 6-7 millim. 
Hab. GuateMaLa, Guatemala city, San Gerdnimo, San Joaquin in Vera Paz 
(Champion). 
Antenne extending nearly as far back as the hind margin of the elytra, scarcely so 
slender as is usual in this genus, the basal and apical joints only indistinctly paler than 
the others. Thorax piceous, broad, the length scarcely equal to two thirds of the 
breadth. Elytra slightly longer than the thorax, finely but densely and rather more 
distinctly punctate and pubescent than is usual in this genus. Hind body obscure red, 
the segments darker at the base, closely punctate and conspicuously setose. 
This species is rather more robust than others of the genus, and the individuals are 
larger than those of any other Zanygnathus known to me, and similar to 7. austral- 
asi, Fauv. Seven specimens have been found. An individual of the male sex from 
San Gerdnimo is figured. 
2. Tanygnathus muticus. 
Piceus; antennis sat elongatis, basi apiceque pallidescentibus; palpis testaceis, pedibus rufis, elytris nigrican- 
tibus, dense subtilissime punctatis ; prothorace fortiter transverso. 
Long. 5 millim. 
Hab. Guaremata, Rio Naranjo 450 feet (Champion); Panama, Bugaba, San Miguel 
one of the Pearl Islands (Champion). 
BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. I. Pt. 2, February 1884. 2 TT 
