Mr. J. Nietner on new Ceylon Coleoptera. 



177 



Cucullsea olivaeformis, Lye. 

 Nucula Jurensis, Quenst. 

 Cardium IluUii, Wright. 

 Unicardiura, sp. indet. 

 Myoconclia crassa, Sow. 

 Perna rugosa, Munst. 

 Goniomya angulifera. Sow., sp. 

 Gervillia Hartmamii, Munst. 



fornicata. Lye. 



Avicula inaequivalvis?, Sow. 

 Modiola cimeata, Sow. 



Sowerbii, Sow., sp. 



compressa, Munst. 



unguiina, l'^. Sf B. 



Mytilus lunularis. Lye. 



, sp. indet. 



Lima Electra, D^Orb. 



bellula, var., Mor. df Lye. 



Galathea, D'Orb. 



ornata, Lye. 



, n. sp. 



Pholadomya arenacea. Lye, 



Micula, Sow. 



, sp. indet. 



Myacites arenacea, Lye. 



, sp. indet. 



Rhynchonella cynocephak. Rich. 

 plicatella, var. 



XVII. — Descriptions of neiv Ceylon Coleoptera, 

 By John Nietner, Colombo, Ceylon. 



[Continued from vol. xix. p. 388.] 



In the first of these papers (Annals, xix. p. 247) I have described 

 a winged species of (Edichirus, a genus supposed to be without 

 organs of flight j and i have since (xix. p. 385) given publicity 

 to the more important discovery of wings in the single genus 

 which forms the family of the Georyssi, also hitherto supposed 

 to be apterous ; I am now about to announce to some and con- 

 firm to others the existence of these organs in the family of the 

 Scydmsenidae, a fact, although incomplete, of more importance 

 than either of the former, considering the extent of the family 

 and the difference of opinion which appears to exist on the 

 subject amongst the most eminent entomological authorities. 

 It is this importance which induces me to enter more fully on 

 the subject. 



I am not acquainted with the famous monograph of the family 

 of the Scydmsenidse by Ur. Schaum ; however, from the manner 

 in which it is quoted by Lacordaire in his ' Genres desColeopt.,^ I 

 should infer that these two celebrated authors agree in all vital 

 points. In Lacordaire^s diagnosis of the family, these insects 

 are described as having (with the exception of the American 

 genus Brathinus, of which Lacordaire is not quite sure that it 

 belongs to the family) the elytra soldered together, and being 

 destitute of wings. Now, it is scarcely credible that on a point 

 so easily ascertained as this, any difference of opinion should 

 exist ; still, Westwood, in his * Modern Classification of Insects,* 

 in describing the same family, makes statements which imply 

 the contrary. However, Lacordaire^s description, being by 

 fifteen years more recent, and, in fact, the latest, is, if only for 



Ann. ^ Mag. N. Hist, Ser. 2. Vol. xx. 12 



