18-1 Mr. D. Sharp's Contributions to the 



female, tlic a))ical segment has a hiteral style on each side, 

 and two more slender ones between them. 



A single sj)ecimen -was found by Mr. Bates, but it bears 

 no special indication of locality. 



Diociius. 



This genus consists of seven described sj^ecics, found in 

 ■Nvidely separated parts of the Avorld, and 1 now add four 

 ncAv species from the Amazons ; these call for no special 

 remark, as they a})pear to be extremely closely allied to 

 one another. 



The genus is one of considerable imjiortancc, notwith- 

 standing the insignificant and miattractivc appearance of 

 the s])ecies which compose it. Some years ago, 1 examined 

 it, and came to the conclusion that it could not be satis- 

 factorily classed Avith the Xantholinini , Avith which it is 

 usually associated. On glancing at some of its points of 

 structure again, I am inclined, however, to suspect that it 

 may prove to be one of the earliest and least specialized 

 forms of the Xantholinini, and that a careful study of its 

 peculiarities may throw considerable- light on the nature 

 of the modifications distinctive of that grouj), as Avell as 

 suggest the species of the Stapliylinini, Avith Avhich the 

 XantJiolinini are most directly connected. 



1. Diochus lonf/icornis, n. sp. Obscure rufo-tcstaccus, 

 nitidus, capite elytrisque circa scutcllum infuscatis. 

 Long. Corp. 2 lin. 



At once distinguished from D.Jiavicans by the much 

 longer antenna?. These are slender and reach not quite 

 to the extremity of the thorax ; they are of a yelloAV 

 colour ; 3rd joint is long and slender, longer tlian the 2nd ; 

 from 4 — 10 each is a little shorter than its predecessor, 

 even the lOth considerably longer than broad. Head 

 pitchy-red, slightly narrower than the thorax, A'ery little 

 narrowed in front, the front part indistinctly jiuncturt'd, 

 the ])unctures ])laced in irregular lines. Thorax a little 

 narrower than the elyti-a, longer than broad, very slightly 

 narrowed in front, dusky reddish-yellow, with four punc- 

 tures near one another on the middle, l)eliind; in front of 

 these Avith two otiiers fai'lher ai)art, and with lour or five 

 others on each sid(\ i'Jytra liardly so long as tlie thorax, 

 yellow, darker al)out the scutelhun, sparingly and very 



