( 595 ) 



Mecocerus Sehrnih. (Gm. Cure, i., \>. 115, 1833). 



This genus is well characterised, and the .species belonging to it hear a close 

 resemblance to each other in general appearance ; it can easily be distinguished from 

 the allied forms with a cylindrical or subcylindrical rostrum, which is dilated at the 

 apex, by the following characters : front of the head very narrow — a character which 

 reminds one of Acm'inus, Liioceriis, etc. ; first antennal joint elongate, conical, 

 second very short; carina of the prothorax laterally not extending beyond the 

 middle; elytra short, strongly convex behind, about half as long again as broad. 



The prostenium of the male is armed with two spines in all species of which I 

 have a larger series before me ; the spines are developed according to the size of the 

 specimens, and vanish entirely in the smallest examples. M. rvallaeci Pasc., M. 

 simulator Pasc, M. infrmis Thorns., etc., are said to have an unarmed pro.sternum ; but 

 examining Pascoe's small type-specimen of wallacei, and larger males of tliis species 

 in the Tring JIuseum, I found this species to possess a strongly armed prostenium in 

 large examples, while the small males show scarcely a trace of the spines. Of M. sinvu- 

 latw Pasc. I have not seen large forms, but the prosternum of the four males of this 

 species I could examine is similar to that of small examples of armed species, so that 

 I have no doubt that large males of simulator will also have a spined breast. Hence 

 I believe the presence or absence of spines on the prosternum is not a character of 

 great specific value. 



The impression between the sjiines of the prosternum varies like the spines. The 

 metasternum of the male bears in the middle a small and scarcely impressed 

 rounded spot, which is densely covered with a velvety pile. 



From Mecotropis Lacord, (Gen. Goleopt., vii., p. 495, 1866) the present genus is at 

 once differentiated by the pirothoraeic carina not extending to near the apical margin, 

 and by the much shorter elytra. 



To Mecotropis Lacord., and not to Mecocerus f^chonh., belong the following 

 species : insignia Pasc, from Ceram ; macidosus Pasc., from Ceram ; pantherinus 

 Thoms., from Aru Is. ; and varierjatus (Oliv.), from Amboina. The beautiful Andaman 

 insect described as Mecocerus sulphAhreus by Ch. (). Waterhouse must be referrerl to 

 the genus Eugir/as Thoms. 



The genus Mecocerus Schonh. ranges over tropical West Africa and .\sia, iind does 

 not go farther east than .lava and Borneo, as far as we know at present. 



I. AFRICAN SPECIES. 

 6. Mecocerus fasciatus sp. nov. 



c? ?. M. niger, fusco-gi-iseo-olivaceo-pubescens, rostri capitisijue linea mediana, 

 elytrorum fascia transversa postbasali, in sutura parum versus scutellum dilatata, 

 metasterni fascia transversa in lateribus lata, in medio angusta, pallide luteo- 

 tomento.sis. Rostrum grosse rugato-punctatum, supra .sat late sidcatum, sulco 

 autrorsum gradatim latiore, in apice fortiter dilatato ; dimidio ba.sali — sicut ca])ut — 

 canaliculatum ; carinis juxta sulcum medianum sitis in apice levibus ; apice inedio 

 levissime carinato. Antennae articulis apice griseo-, clava nigro-brunneo-pubescen- 

 tibus, ( J') corpore dimidio longiores, (?) prothoracis basim vix attingentes. Prothorax 

 ante scutellum leviter impressus, sat sparsim sed distin<'te granulatus (in utroque 



