216 LONGICORNIA. 
AMPHIONYCHA. 
Pyrobolus (partim) , Chevrolat in Guérin, Rev. Zool. 1838, p. 284 (nom. przocc.). 
Amphionycha (partim), id. ib. ; Leseleuc in Guérin, Mag. Zool. Ins. v. pl. 138, p. 1 (1844) ; Thomson, 
Archiv. Ent. i. p. 311 (1857); id. Syst. Ceramb. p. 127; id. Physis, 1. p. 197; Lacordaire, 
Gen. Col. ix. p. 890 (1872) ; Bates, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. 3, xvii. p. 426 (1866). 
Zeale, Pascoe, Trans. Ent. Soc. ser. 8, v. p. 287 (1866). 
(dudes, Thomson, Physis, ii. p. 199 (1867). 
This genus was introduced to science under the name above given by Dejean in his 
‘Catalogue des Coléoptéres.’ Unfortunately it remained for many years without 
published characters ; and as Dr. Leconte, in 1852, was thought to be the first to give a 
generic formula, which unfortunately excludes nearly all the species before and since 
described under the name, Dr. Horn has recently claimed for this later definition the 
priority, and proposes to change the name used by all other describers. I doubt, how- 
ever, whether this course could be justified, even by the law of priority. Chevrolat, in 
1838, may be said to have characterized Amphionycha when he defined the genus Pyro- 
bolus (giving Saperda fumigata, Germar, as the type) and stated that all the other species 
belonged to Amphionycha. Saperda fumigata, however, is probably a true Amphionycha ; 
and therefore Pyrobolus, established with positive characters, would be the prior name, 
had it not been previously used in Botany, and apparently withdrawn subsequently by 
its author. After this Leseleuc established the genus Amphionycha much more definitely 
(in 1844); for, although in describing and figuring A. /uctuosa he did not give a generic 
formula, he mentioned all the generic characters of the insect; and, in fact, no subse- 
quent author, except Leconte, has been in doubt as to the genus, taking A. luctuosa as 
its type. 
The genus is distinguished from its allies by its linear form, vertical epipleure, 
carinated on their summit, and filiform antenne, in which the third joint alone is 
conspicuously elongated, and none of the joints thickened or furnished with dense 
pencils of hair. Zeale was founded by its author on mistaken observation, the compact 
tomentum in the species concealing the carine, which, however, really exist. 
1. Amphionycha spectabilis. 
Saperda spectabilis, Drury, Il. iii. p. 738, t. 48. f. 8,97. 
Cidudes spectabilis, Thomson, Physis, i. 6, p. 199. 
Hab. Mexico, Cordova, Tuxtla (Sad/é); Honpuras!; GuateMaua, Panima, San Juan 
(Champion).—Sovutu America, Colombia. 
In Mexican examples the white fascia of the forehead is dilated above in the middle, 
and extends in a point to the vertex. The white belts of the elytra vary in width and 
form, but they remain only two in number. Mr. Champion met with examples in which 
the white colour is partially or wholly changed to a beautiful rosy red. 
