180 Mr. J. Nietner on new Ceylon Coleoptera. 



spider-webs, under rotting vegetable substances, and in the 

 grass. 



After this preamble, which I trust may not be deemed quite 

 superfluous, I now enter upon the description of my species, 

 drawing attention previously to the three very natural and very 

 distinct groups which they form, the characteristics of which 

 will at once be perceptible from the headings given below. With 

 regard to the first group (A. I. sp. 30-S4) 1 may mention that 

 the elongated legs, largely developed posterior trochanters, and 

 often distant posterior coxse, render the motions of the in- 

 sects belonging to it staggering when walking, which, together 

 with their oblong, subdepressed body, distinguishes them at 

 a glance. I have subdivided them from the cultriform or 

 grooved mesosternal carina. The second group (A. II. spec. 

 35-41) is equally well characterized by the more robust, pyri- 

 form and subconvex body of the insects. S. pselaphoides in 

 the former, and S, advolans in the present group, form connect- 

 ing links between the two ; especially S. pselaphoides, which in 

 general appearance rather belongs to the second; upon closer 

 examination, however, it is easily ascertained to be an anomalous 

 member of the former. Erom the rounded or narrowed occiput 

 I have divided the second group into two subdivisions, giving pre- 

 ference to the distinctions to be drawn from this part of the body 

 to those to be derived from the thorax, which, from the variety of 

 shapes it assumes, would naturally suggest itself for that pur- 

 pose ; but the gradations between the principal forms appear to 

 me too many, too fine, and therefore too indistinct, to adopt 

 them. As to the third group (B. spec. 42), the insect which 

 alone forms it amongst those described below, is so different 

 from any of the others, that its peculiarities must strike any 

 one at first sight. 



A. Species with a thick neck, ah-uptly formed and immersed in 



the thorax. 

 I. Fourth joint of the maxillary palpi not acuminated; head sub- 

 quadrato-ovate ; eyes middlirig or small, finely granulated, 

 little or not at all prominent ; antenna subapproximate at the 

 base ; posterior trochanters elongated at the apex ; thorax 

 obovate ; body elongate, subdepressed. 



a. Mesosternal carina slight, simple. 



30. Scydmanus alatus, N. 



S. dilute brunneus, pedibus antennisque dilutioribus, tarsis palpisque 

 testaceis ; pubescens. Long. corp. | lin. 



Antennee art. 1° apice biacuminato, 3-4 subsequahbus, 5 preece- 



