110 MALACODERMATA. 
black colour, the shorter transverse thorax, the smaller eyes, and its opaque surface. 
The head is obscurely red, blackish near the eyes; the mandibles are more prominent 
than in either of the other species. The thorax is clothed, especially at the sides, with 
hairs. The elytra are a little shining, closely and finely punctured. The wings in 
repose cover the abdomen, as in the other species of the genus; they are dark. 
Only two specimens of this species have apparently been met with. Its resemblance 
to Ptorthodius ramosus is so close that I should have been inclined to consider them 
sexes of one species, but that the differences of the antenne with eleven joints, and of 
the form and position of the branches seem to me rather generic than sexual. 
MELITOMMA. 
Melitomma, Murray, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. 3, xx. p. 314 (1867). 
Hylecetus, Castelnau, Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. 1832, p. 398. 
The genus Melitomma was proposed by Mr. Murray, in the ‘Annals and Magazine 
of Natural History,’ for the insect known as “ Hylecetus brasiliensis” of Castelnau, and 
its affinities discussed at some length. It is not very clear, however, whether the 
characters of his genus were taken from the Brazilian species or from the insect 
described by him as WM. castaneum from Old Calabar; nor do I feel at all sure that, if 
such a species exists, it is distinct from the American insect. The Lymexylonide of 
Mr. Murray’s collection were purchased by me; but although I find specimens of what 
I refer to H. brasiliensis, there is no type of VM. castanewm among them. A species, 
however, which appears identical with Mr. Murray’s is in my collection from Siam, 
Laos, Celebes, and the Andaman Islands; and what is very remarkable is that there is 
really no specific difference between these beetles and the species sent from Central 
America. Nor is there any doubt about their generic difference from either Hylecetus 
or Lymeaylon. They are most nearly related to the latter genus, inasmuch as the 
abdomen is formed of five segments only. The so-called ocellus on the head of 
Hylecetus, but which is simply a central point in the corrugation, is not present either. 
It would, indeed, have been remarkable if this point had proved to be an ocellus, as I 
am not aware that any coleopterous imago possesses such an organ. 
But this genus is especially interesting because it proves the connexion of the genera 
I have admitted here, Euryopa and Ptorthodius, with the Lymexylonide. ‘The antenne 
show a similar “‘imbricate” or abortive stage of vegetative structure; the form of the 
thorax is almost identical, while the five segments of the abdomen and the singular 
palpi of the male show a close affinity with Lymeaylon. 
1. Melitomma brasiliense. (Tab. VII. fig. 3.) 
Hylecetus brasiliensis, Cast. loc. cit. p. 398°. 
Melitomma brasiliense, Murray, loc. cit. p. 315°. 
Melitomma castaneum, Murray, loc. cit. p. 316°. 
