2^2 Dr. Afzelius'j Objavations on the Genus Paufus. 



is nearly truncated, and downwards infle&ed ; but that of P. micro- 

 cephalus fhews an appearance very different, its top being feemingly 

 drawn out in the middle into a point, and its keel longitudinally 

 falcated, as if the lip were bipartite. Whether thefe appearances 

 are optic illufions, or realities, or owing to the fubjacent maxilla?, 

 I do not pretend to determine. But fo much is certain, that, by 

 repeated obiervations, I have not been able to difcover any fiffure in 

 the middle tip of the labium, viewed in front. 

 ^ The Thorax, though very unlike in thefe fpecies as to many par- 

 ticulars, is neverthelefs upon the whole of the fame ihape. * It is 

 narrower than the elytra, and uneven, confuting G f two diititicl 

 parts, the foremoft a little railed all around, and the other not only 

 lower, but alfo broader, and either depreiTed or excavated in the 

 middle, being otherwife nearly cylindraceous ; and therefore the 

 term attenuates, ufed by Thunberg, feems not to be very appofite, 

 though it may anfwer much better the defcription of his own 

 {pecks. But even fuppofing that the thorax tapers towards the 

 bafe, it would be the very reverie of attenuates as applied elfe* 

 where. 



The Elytra are linear, al molt flat, fmooth, thin and flexile; the 

 bafe, containing the imzW /cute Hum, is not only much contracted,, 

 but even narrower than the thorax; the exterior margins, bent 

 down, cover a great deal of the abdomen ; and the truncated ends 

 are infixed behind ; but to avoid a fold being neceilary in the 

 outer angle on each fide, where the incurvated borders of the fides 

 and the ends meet, the elytra are there cut out into minute finufes, 

 the edges of which being a little raifed form as it were fmall oblong 

 tubercles. 



The Abdomen is of the fame thicknefs throughout, and compofed 

 of five fegments; above, it is nearly flat, and of a light changeable 



ferruginous. 



