SAZICHES. 261 
Group MISOLAMPIDES. 
This group, originally defined by the Marquis de Bréme, consists of Group II. of the 
Tribe “ Hélopides” of Lacordaire. The New-World genera of ‘ Misolampides” are 
few in number and are confined to South and Central America; the group is not 
represented in America north of Mexico. The Central-American species hitherto 
placed in Spherotus I have thought best to eliminate and place in other genera. 
The genus Mitys, placed by me in the “Tenebrionides” (ante p. 97), must also be 
included in this group. Not having at that time critically examined the genera of 
“ Misolampides” and not having detected any resemblance between the typical species 
of Spherotus and the Mexican S. politus, de Bréme, with which I. levis is no doubt 
identical, I was induced to include Mitys with the “‘Tenebrionides.” ‘There can be no 
doubt, however, that this genus belongs to the present group, and though superficially 
resembling @atus, and other genera of ‘‘Tenebrionides,” its place is with Spherotus 
and its allies. Mitys will be known from Spherotus, as understood here, by the larger 
head with more greatly developed epistoma, the strong claw to the maxille, the broader 
scutellum, the elytra never with rows of coarse rounded impressions, smooth, or at most 
with rows of very minute punctures on the disc, the broader and more produced pro- 
sternum, &c.; and from Oxidates (with which it agrees in the structure of the maxille, 
&c.) by its still more developed epistoma, relatively longer thorax, differently sculptured 
elytra, &c. In general facies Mitys is not unlike Eleodes; it does not bear any 
resemblance to Spherotus and allies; the Helopiform structure of the antenne, how- 
ever, indicates its proper affinity. . (Spherotus) politus, de Bréme, is no doubt the 
insect referred to by Lacordaire (Gen. Col. v. p. 447, nota) as possibly belonging to the 
Temperate South-American genus Heliophygus, with which, however, it cannot be 
included. 
Hegemona, included by Lacordaire in his Group III. “ Hélopides vrais,” seems to me 
to be better placed here; Allard, in his recent monograph of this genus, places it in 
the “ Misolampides.” 
The different species are usually found by beating dead branches, especially of 
fallen decaying trees, in or near the forest ; some are found in and about new clearings, 
others in very dark humid places. 
SAZICHES. 
Mentum trapezoidal, strongly deflexed at the sides, the angles not prominent ; ligula strongly exserted, rounded 
dn front ; last joint of the maxillary palpi broad, securiform ; inner lobe of the maxille armed with coarse 
sete only ; mandibles truncate at the apex ; anteune long, slender, reaching far beyond the base of the 
prothorax, joint 3 much longer than 4, joints 4-6 subequal, 7-10 long, decreasing slightly in length, 
distinctly widening outwardly, joint 11 longer than 10, oblong ovate, the five outer joints (as usual) 
closely punctured and pubescent ; head comparatively broad and large, the epistoma greatly developed and 
separated by a deeply impressed fine semicircular groove; eyes transverse, rather convex; prothorax 
transverse, somewhat convex, narrowly but distinctly margined on all sides; scutellum large, triangular ; 
elytra very strongly transversely gibbous, raised greatly above the level of the prothorax, the apices 
