610 Mr. J. O. Wxzsrwoon on the Pausside, 
Pepes subzquales, breves, compressi. Tarsi breves, articulis 
integris, articulo basali minuto, subtüs producto. 
ABDOMEN thorace multó majus et elytris longius. 
Insecta exotica, parva, duriuscula, longitudine 2—54 lin. 
Of the Aabits of the family we possess but little information, 
and that only upon two species of Paussus, which will be found 
noticed under that genus: it is, however, probable that the 
other genera are similar in their habits, and that in their pre- 
paratory states their habitat is either under the bark of trees or 
in timber. They are steady and slow in their movements, and 
nocturnal in their habits, and in their perfect state are met 
with in newly-built houses. "The species, however, must be of 
considerable rarity, since many of our richest cabinets do not 
even possess an individual of the family. 
With respect to the geographical distribution of the family 
it may be remarked, that they appear to inhabit the Old World 
exclusively, and that the tropical and southern portions of Africa 
and the East Indies and Indian islands, are their peculiar range. 
Cerapterus MacLeaii is, however, described by Donovan as an 
inhabitant of New Holland. | | 
From the singularity in the structure of these insects, it is 
difficult to speak of their affinities with precision. With respect 
to their relationship with Cerocoma, in which genus they were 
originally placed by Fabricius, there is, as Afzelius correctly 
conceived, no affinity, and indeed but little analogy beyond the 
singularity in the antenne. Afzelius, indeed, supposed that 
they approached nearest to Clerus, bearing to it, as he observes, 
at least upon the whole, so much natural resemblance, that 
their most proper place in the systematic arrangement will be 
next after that genus. It is to be wished, however, that this 
author had more precisely stated the points in which he sup- 
. posed 
