IDOLIA.—MURMIDIUS. 243 
(Blancaneaux); GuateMata, El Reposo, Chaco} (Champion).—Co.oms1A, Cartagena ? ; 
VENEZUELA, Caracas2; ANTILLES, Cuba 23, San Domingo ?. 
Ten examples. 
Differences of opinion are expressed in the writings of entomologists as to the 
desirability of placing Murmidius and Mychocerus in a family by themselves; but as 
the species are few and somewhat obscure, it is thought best in this arrangement to 
leave them in the Histeride. Duval was the first to suggest the family Murmidiide 
and he has been followed by Dr. Horn. In the opinion of the present writer, the form 
of the antenne and of the sternal plates (especially that of the prosternum) point to 
the Histeride as the most fitting associates of these singular genera. 
MURMIDIUS. 
Murmidius, Leach, Trans. Linn. Soc. xiii. p. 41 (1822); J acquelin-Duval, Gen. Col. Eur. li. p. 227, 
t. 56. fig. 276. 
Ceutocerus, Germar, Ins. spec. nov. p. 85 (1824). 
The members of this genus are at present limited to three: one (Mf. ovalis, Beck) is 
reputed to be cosmopolitan; the two others, as stated here, are of Central American 
origin. 
1. Murmidius irregularis. (Tab. VIII. fig. 1.) 
Murmidius irregularis, Reitt. Verh. zool.-bot. Ges. Wien, xxvil. p. 165 (1877)’. 
Hab. Mexico, Teapa!; Guatemaa, El Tumbador (Champion) ; Panama, Volcan de 
Chiriqui (Champion). 
2. Murmidius rectistriatus, sp.n. (Tab. VIII. fig. 2.) 
Ovalis, supra convexus, flavo-brunneus, nitidus, sparse hirsutus; pronoto lateribus marginato, angulis anticis 
obtusis ; elytris punctorum seriatim impressis ; pedibus flavis. Long. 1 millim. 
Hab. Mexico. 
A single example only, without more precise locality, has been sent to me by Herr E. 
Reitter. I. rectistriatus is smaller than Wf. irregularis, Reitter, and is much paler in 
colour: in the former the prosternal strie are parallel to each other, and the meso- 
sternal strie are complete in front, leaving a narrow space as an anterior margin ; 
in the latter the prosternal striz are slightly divergent throughout their length and 
are hamate at their tips, and the mesosternal striz terminate on each side at a point 
opposite the bases of the prosternal striez, and there is therefore no anterior margin. 
21* 2 
