468 Monograph of the Genus Leptocera. 



Art. II. Monograph of the Genus Leptocera, Dejean; with De- 

 scriptions of two new Species found in the Isle of Bourbon. By 

 M. Julien Desjardins, Secretary of the Natural History Society 

 of the Mauritius.* 



The subject of the present communication is a genus of in- 

 sects of the order Coleoptera, established by Count Dejean, 

 in the first edition of the catalogue of his collection, and to 

 which he has given the name of Leptocera, (slender horned). 

 This genus was formed for the reception of an insect which, 

 up to the present time, has been found only in our island. — 

 The most recent works that I have been able to consult con- 

 tain no mention of it's having been found elsewhere. It is 

 the Leptocera scripta, included by Fabricius in the great 

 genus Cerambyx, under the name of Cer. scriptus. 



The genus Leptocera, Dej., was composed solely of this 

 single species, when M.M. Gory and Boisduval, two of the 

 most distinguished French entomologists, found occasion, 

 more recently, to add to it two more species, namely the Lep. 

 bilineata of Gory, and the Lep. graphica of Boisduval. The 

 latter is from New Holland ; and the first is given in the 

 " Iconographie du Regne Animal," by M. Guerin, from which 

 I have copied it ; and was probably described by M. Gory in 

 some work upon species. 



Two other not less remarkable species appear to me to be 

 new. They were found in the commune of St. Suzanne, in the 

 Isle of Bourbon; whence our colleagues M. M. Bellier Beau- 

 mont and Lepeevauche Meziere have several times sent me 

 specimens, which have enabled me to ascertain the differen- 

 ces which distinguish them from each other, and from the 

 species found in Mauritius. 



The genus is thus characterized by Latreille, in the 2nd 

 edition of the * Animal Kingdom.' 



" No projection in the presternum; the antennce setaceous, 

 and much longer than the body, especially in the males ; the 

 corslet united, in forma truncated cone ; the abdomen and 

 elytra nearly triangular." 



Leptocera scripta, Dej. Cat. ; Cerambyx scriptus, Fabr. 



Colour of the upper parts brown with black ; that of the 

 under parts a silvery white, or sometimes verging upon a clear 

 yellow, disposed in a regular manner, and always deep. 



* Communicated by the author. Read at the Society's Sitting, Aug. 3rd. 

 1837. 



