6l6 Mr. J. O. Westwood on the Paussidce^ 



indeed it does not appear to me (on comparing the charac- 

 ters of the different genera and the observations upon their 

 respective affinities subsequently detailed,) that a natural linear 

 or circular disposition can at present be traced in the few- 

 genera composing the family. Thus if we look to the variation 

 in the number of joints in the antennte, we shall find Trochoi- 

 deus intervening between Paiissiis and Fentaplatarthrus, and the 

 latter between Flatyrhopalus and Cerapterus. Again, if we re- 

 gard the form of the antennae, we shall find the resemblance 

 between Hylotorus and Paussus pilicornis Don., sufficient to 

 separate Paussus from Pentaplatarlhrus. Again, as the genera 

 are numerically arranged above, the genus Hylotorus unnatu- 

 rally separates the true Paussi with a continuous thorax from 

 the Platyrhopali. If, also, we attempt to form a tabular ar- 

 rangement of the genera from the structure of the trophi, — 

 which, according to the Table given by Mr. MacLeay in the first 

 part of the Ilora. Entomologicce, are the organs susceptible of the 

 least variation, and which consequently are of the first impor- 

 tance in regulating the distribution of genera, — I fear that the 

 result will not be more satisfactory : indeed, in some of the genera 

 we are not acquainted with the structure of these organs. 



It appears, however, sufficiently natural to commence the 

 series with Pentaplatarthrus, and to proceed thence to the true 

 Paussi with a bipartite thorax ; thence, by means of P. sphcero- 

 cerus, to those with the thorax continuous, and to the Platyrho- 

 pali, which evidently lead to the Cerapteri 



Genus 1. Pentaplatarthrus* mihi. 



Type of the Genus, P. paussoides mihi. 



Corpus subdepressum ; capite parvo ; thorace majori ; abdomine 



* nivTs, quinque; TtXaTxi;, platus ; apipov, articulus; — in allusion to the formation of 

 the antennae. 



latiore 



