ZNIGMATICUM.—ECTINOCEPHALUS. 105 
the most normal type of the family. This is especially evident in the mesosternum, 
the first ventral segment, the unilobed maxille, and the excessively enlarged second 
joint of both the maxillary and labial palpi; while on the upperside the antenne 
alone present a Corylophide appearance. 
In the first distribution of Mr. Champion’s collection this species was sent to me 
among the Trichopterygide, and subsequently returned with some others evidently not 
Trichopterygide to Dr. Sharp. Subsequently, at Dr. Sharp’s request, I undertook the 
revision of the Central-American Silphide and Corylophide, and he then forwarded 
this insect to me with the observation that ‘ unless it was a Corylophide he was ata 
loss to discover to what family it could belong.” Having previously noticed its peculiar 
appearance I had retained a mutilated specimen of the same species, and from this 
have fortunately been able to make the dissections, which have, as it seems to me, 
placed its true position beyond the possibility of doubt. 
The single species is from Guatemala. 
1. Ainigmaticum ptilioides, sp. n. (Tab. III. figg. 13, 13 a.) 
Ovale, modice convexum, totum alutaceum, rufo-brunneum, parum eratum; capite parvo, prominente, antice 
producto; oculis magnis, prominentibus; pronoto modico, subcordato, medio latissimo, basin versus 
contracto, profunde alutaceo, punctis sat magnis remote et equidistanter dispositis ornato, lateribus 
marginatis et leviter crenulatis, margine basali fere recta angulis fere rectis; elytris sat magnis, quam 
pronotum parum latioribus, plus quam sesqui-longioribus, ante media latissimis, fortiter alutaceis, punctis 
remotis striatim dispositis impressis, stria suturali circa scutellum usque ad humeros extensa notatis, 
lateribus ovaliter rotundatis, leviter marginatis, apicibus latis valde rotundatis; abdominis pygidio 
exserto, rufescente ; pedibus rufo-piceis; antennis flavescentibus, clavis obscuris. Long. corp. 3°, lin.= 
75 millim. 
Body oval, moderately convex, alutaceous throughout, rufous-brown, slightly brassy. Head small, exserted, 
the mouth produced, alutaceous, with a few remote punctures; eyes large and very prominent; antenne 
rather short, flavescent, with the club dusky. Thorax moderate, subcordate, widest at the middle, 
contracted towards the base, deeply alutaceous, ornamented with rather large punctures remotely and 
rather equidistantly arranged ; sides margined and slightly crenulated; basal margin almost straight, with 
the angles nearly rectangular. Scutellum large, obtusely triangular, alutaceous. Zlytra rather large, 
one half longer and a little broader than the head and thorax, widest before the middle, deeply alutaceous, 
marked with remote punctures in longitudinal rows, with a sutural stria prolonged round the scutellum 
and to the exterior humeral angle; sides ovally rounded and slightly margined; extremities broad and 
much rounded. Abdomen with the pygidium exposed, rufescent. Legs rather long, rufo-piceous. Under- 
parts pitchy-black. 
Hab. Guatemaua, Capetillo 4500 feet (Champion). ‘Two examples. 
ECTINOCEPHALUS*, gen. nov. 
Corpus elongatum, obconicum. Caput totum exsertum; oculis prominentibus ; antennis longe ante oculos 
insertis. Pronotum parvum, pone caput rectum, haud excisum. lytra elongata, postice attenuata. 
Abdomen modice exsertum. Antenne haud geniculate, articulis decem composite, duobus basalibus 
magnis, tribus ultimis clavam subfoliatam formantibus, apicali subrotundato. Prosternwm sat magnum, 
inter coxas elevatum, postice productum et dilatatum ; episternis minutis; epimeris sat magnis, recep- 
* éxreivw, to extend; xepad, the head. 
BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. II. Pt. 1, January 1888. P* 
