112 MALACODERMATA. 
1. Atractocerus brasiliensis. (Tab. VII. fig. 7.) 
Atractocerus brasiliensis, Serville, Enc. Méth. x. p. 8309*; Lacord. Gen. des Col. iv. p. 501”, Atlas, 
t. 47. fig. 1. 
Atractocerus dipterorum, Cast. Hist. Nat. i. p. 290%. 
Atractocerus dipterum, Perty, Del. An. p. 25, t. 5. fig. 15. 
Hab. Mexico, Cordova, Tuxtla, Isabal (Sad/é); Guatemata (Sallé), Duefias (Salvin), 
Pantaleon, Torola (Champion); Nicaragua, Chontales (Janson); Panama, Volcan de 
Chiriqui (Champion).—Sovutu AMERICA, Brazil ! 2 3, Chili. 
The Central-American specimens vary immensely in size; the smallest, one from 
Tuxtla, is very little over 13 millim. in length ; while another from Cordova measures 
43 millim., and is proportionally larger and more heavily built. Both of these appear 
to be males; yet it does not seem possible to separate them specifically. A. brasiliensis 
does not differ much from the corresponding species which occurs in Africa, A. africanus : 
the chief difference lies in the shorter thorax, with a not so deeply impressed median 
channel. 
Fam. MELYRIDA. 
The insects comprised in this family are generally distinguished among the Malaco- 
dermata by the insertion of the antenne being in front of the eyes, on the sides of the 
front part of the head, by having the labrum distinct, and by the abdomen being 
composed of six plates or segments. In the structure of the tarsi, which often have the 
joints bilobed, produced into submembranaceous pads beneath, more or less enclosing 
the succeeding joints, and in the rather retracted head closely fitting into the thorax, 
as well as in the brilliant colours with which many of them are adorned, these beetles 
exhibit an affinity with the Cleride more close than any other family of the group. 
They are remarkable for the singular vesicles which many of them are capable of 
suddenly extruding from the thorax and abdomen on being frightened. 
Subfam. TAL ACHITDES. 
The Melyride are divisible into three subfamilies, the last of which, the Priono- 
cerides, is peculiar to Africa and the East. 
The Malachiides are for the most part small insects, abundant in the temperate parts 
of the Old World, rarer in tropical countries. While America north of Mexico has 
at least sixty-five representatives, the diligent researches of MM. Sallé, Boucard, and 
Mr. Champion, with other collections added, do not bring forward more than a dozen and 
a half from Central America. They have been excellently monographed by Erichson. 
