TELEPHORUS. 89 
America north of Mexico, it is not impossible it may occur. The fission of the claw 
of Rhagonycha taken alone is, after all, only analogous to what occurs in Photuris 
among the Lampyride, and is found with various modifications in Podabrus, Discodon, 
and in other genera, attention to which is much needed. The character by which 
Telephorus proper is defined best is by the apical ventral segment in the male being 
neither valvular nor split, but simply an ovate small plate covering the genitalia. 
Telephorus in its widest sense, then, is found all over the world, and numbers at present 
about 350 species. It is, however, as a glance at the Munich Catalogue will show, espe- 
cially the genus of the northern temperate zone, and is quite as abundant in New-World 
as Old-World forms. Forty species from temperate North America are in Crotch’s list. 
Dr. Leconte has recently published a synopsis of the species found in the United 
States (Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc. ix. pp. 50-55, March 1881), in which the number of 
Telephori, inclusive of Khagonycha, is given as thirty-five. Polemius, which was 
included by Crotch, is evidently the representative of my genus Discodon, but differs 
from it in not possessing the lobes or fission of the claws of the males. 
It may be observed I am unable to give the sexual distinction of the four species I 
have retained here in the genus. ‘The number of specimens are few, and, it is probable, 
will have to be removed to other genera when their males have been observed. At 
present they must be regarded as unclassified. 
1. Telephorus lampyroides. (Discodon?) (Tab. VI. fig. 15.) 
Fusco-piceus, nitidus; prothorace transverso, quadrato, aurantiaco, glabro, macula discoidali basali picea ; 
elytris sordide flavis, fusco-infuscatis, postice paulo ampliatis. Long. 16-17 millim. 9°. 
Hab. Costa Rica, Rio Sucio, Volcan de Irazu (Rogers). 
Var. elytris piceis, vitta in humeris incipiente margineque pallidis, 
Hab. Guatemata, Cerro Zunil (Champion). 
Head pitchy, shining, reddish at the base ; antennz fuscous, of moderate length, not 
reaching the middle of the abdomen ; palpi fuscous, apical joints hatchet-formed, but 
not strongly so, and obliquely truncate. The width of the thorax is nearly or quite 
twice its length ; it is very shining, the disk and sides evenly elevated, the base narrowly 
reflexed. Its colour is a clear orange-yellow ; in the centre of the base a square pitchy 
black spot, more or less continued across the disk, but not reaching the front. The 
scutellum, breast, legs, base, and apical segment of the abdomen are dark fuscous. 
The elytra are rather dull, only a little shining at their bases, of a dull horn-colour, 
clouded in the centre with fuscous. 
The variety from Cerro Zunil has the elytra darker, with a central pale vitta 
extending from the humerus to within about one third from the apex, and the external _ 
margin pale. The specimens all appear to be females, from the broad apical segment 
of the abdomen, which is always fuscous with paler margins. 
The species, especially the variety, bears a very striking resemblance to Lampyride 
of the genus Photinus, as, for example, to P. congruus and P. gliscens. 
BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. IIL, Pt. 2, October 1881. N 
