102 CORYLOPHIDA. 
Fam. CORYLOPHIDZA*. 
If we can judge by the distribution of the species hitherto discovered, the Corylophide 
seem to be especially adapted to the tropical parts of the globe. The total number of 
described species from all parts of the world to the date of publication of Gemminger 
and Harold’s Catalogue amounted to fifty-nine; from Central America alone I have 
now to record twenty-nine species, the majority of which are described as new. The 
genera already known are all represented in our region, except Peltinus, Aphanoce- 
phalus, Phenocephalus, and Microstagetus; but the deficiency is compensated by the 
addition of four new and very distinct forms described in the following pages under the 
names of Ainigmaticum, Conodes, Ectinocephalus, and Micréum. 
The study of the Corylophid is attended with much difficulty, chicfly owing to the 
fact that the diagnostic characters often consist, among the species as well as the genera, 
in the number and form of the articulations of the antenne. From the peculiar position 
and shape of the head it is generally a matter of some trouble to bring these limbs into 
sight, and the difficulty is further increased by the deep grooves, extending round the 
outer margin of the eye far into the prothorax, in which they are usually embedded; 
and, moreover, after the antenne have been extended, the exceedingly minute size of 
the intermediate articulations often renders it almost impossible to count them without 
the aid of some transparent medium. Again, the small space into which they are 
compressed and the excessive fragility of their structure render the dissection of the 
organs of the mouth a task of so much difficulty, that, if you have regard to the 
preservation of a type, it is unwise to hazard the attempt on any species of which only 
one or at the most two examples have been found. In the case of a genus represented 
by numerous individuals dissection is admissible, but even then may possibly require 
two or three trials before a full series of the various organs can be obtained. I have 
therefore refrained from attempting to dissect the parts of the mouth in three new 
genera; of all the rest I have obtained a perfect series, and have felt rewarded for the 
trouble it has cost by being enabled to see the unusual complicity and beauty of their 
anatomy. . 
The Corylophide not having yet been thoroughly characterized I give a full 
definition :— 
General Characters. 
Body generally short, more or less rounded ; in the ‘ Saciina’ alone elongate. Head usually concealed by the 
pronotum ; in the ‘Orthoperina’ and some aberrant genera more or less exserted. Thoraw with the 
anterior margin entire, or slightly excavated in Qonodes and the ‘Orthoperina.’ Elytra ovate, with the 
apex entire; or elongate, with the apices separately rounded (Saciina). Wings ample, oval, not pedun- 
culate; with a strong costal nerve extending from the base to less than half the length of the wing, and a 
single very fine nerve passing from the hase obliquely towards the posterior margin of the wing; posterior 
margin fringed with short hairs. Antenne clavate, varying much in the numbers of the joints, often 
* By A, Marruews. 
