PHENGODES. 65 
4. Phengodes bipennifera. (Tab. V. fig. 1, var. «.) 
Ferruginea, nitida; antennis, articulis duobus basalibus exceptis, elytrorumque apicibus fuscis ; prothorace 
disco nitido, obsolete canaliculato, subtiliter punctulato, angulis posticis acutis, productis. Long. 
13 millim. 
Var. a, occipite, prothoracis disco, pectore et scutello, abdomine etiam maculis nigris. 
Var. B, palpis et pedibus, basi excepta, nigris. 
Hab. Mexico, Durasnal, Tuxtla, Cordova (Sallé); GuatemaLa, Chiacam, Senahu, 
Chacoj (Champion). 
The figure represents the specimen from Durasnal. 
Allied to P. plumosa, but, in addition to its smaller size, distinguished by the longer and 
darker antenne, the channel on the disk of the thorax, and by the latter being distinctly 
punctured. It is evidently variable in colour; but the yellow predominates. In the 
five specimens which I assign to this species, one has the head and thorax and body 
partly infuscate (var. 3); this is from Senahu; while one from Durasnal has the palpi 
and legs black, excepting the coxe and femora (var. a), the body in this one being 
wholly ferruginous. 
The wings are fuscous, with darker marginal nervures, and are as long as the body. 
The apices of the elytra, and in some specimens the inner margins, are blackish. The 
thoracic channel is usually divided into two portions, one near the front margin, one on 
the disk; but these are at other times connected by a very fine impressed line. 
5. Phengodes minor. 
Nigra, capite et prothorace rufo-ferrugineis, pedibus basi pallidis. Long. 84-9 millim. 
Var. capite prothoracisque lateribus nigris. 
Hab. Guatemata, Purulaw—Var. Cerro Zunil, Senahu (Champion). 
This is the smallest Phengodes I have yet seen; and it is very easily distinguished by 
its dark colour, excepting the head and thorax, which are usually clear, dark, rusty red. 
In one specimen captured on Cerro Zunil, and which has the head and sides of the 
thorax black, the basal joint of the antenne is reddish ; but in all the other specimens of a 
considerable series taken by Mr. Champion it is black. They are nearly equal in length 
to the body. The maxillary palpi seem more acuminate than in other species of this 
genus. The thorax is punctulate, shining, and has a longitudinal impression, obsolete 
in front and behind. 
Fam. TELEPHORID. 
The establishment of this as a separate family is due to Lacordaire—previous authors, . 
and, indeed, many still (including Leconte in his ‘ Classification of the Coleoptera of North 
America’), regarding it, with the Lycide and true Lampyride, as only of subordinate 
rank. In addition, however, to the manifest unsuitableness of the term Lampyride 
for the three sections taken together, the characters which separate these insects are 
trenchant, and entitle them to the rank of a family equally with the Melyride and 
BIOL. CENT.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. IIT., Pt. 2, June 1881. K 
