72 Coleopterological Notices. 



somewhat resemble Trogophloeus in external facies. They are at 

 once distinii'uishable, however, by the extremely large, externally 

 ang-ulate and open anterior coxal cavities, the open portion be3^ond 

 the coxae having a large trochantin or plate, which probably serves 

 the purpose of an operculum ; they also differ by having a row 

 of short rather robust and distinct s])inules along the outer edge of 

 the anterior tibire. The genus is rather closely related to Ancvro- 

 phorus, the latter being distinguished by the visible scutellum and 

 rather longer and more conical fourth joint of the maxillary palpi. 

 The affinity with Oxytelus is much more remote, not only in habi- 

 tus, but in the special modifications of structure. 



The eighth ventral segment of the males, as usual in this portion 

 of the Oxytelini, is longitudinally divided throughout its length, 

 forming two distinct parts which overlap. In the present genus 

 the overlapping edge is parallel to the axis of the body, and the 



at least tolerate, the adoption for generic names of any combination of letters 

 which is moderate in length, easily pronounceable, and which has a Latin 

 form or habitus so to speak, and although Aploderus may not be as good 

 Greek as liaploderus, it is at all events a certain definite combination of 

 letters, having a Latin form, and easily pronounceable, and could not be 

 altered even by the author himself. 



Although generic names are generally taken or derived from the Greek, 

 they cease to be Greek and become Latin as soon as published over a descrip- 

 tion, and Aploderus is as good a Latin word as llaplodiTUS, or Bledius, or 

 Hamletia. The only reason for altering a name once published is because of a 

 typographical error which may either delatinize it, or render it unpronounce- 

 able. 



If generic names be not considered as Latin simply and solely, we are 

 continually gnilty of a " barbarism" of the worst kind^ — the modification of a 

 Greek word by a Latin adjective. It being granted therefore tiiat generic 

 words are Latin and not Greek, it follows that the gender of specilic names 

 should depend upon the ending of the generic name in its Latin sense, /. e., 

 words ending in a, is, and e are feminine, (.7. Ti/loderma mrea and not (ireiim. 

 LTnfortunately there are many words used for genera which are perfectly 

 Greek in form and not Latin ; in these cases the only course to pursue is to 

 give to the specific names genders wliich coincide with the Latin equivalent, 

 e.(/., Aledon J'usculum and not fusculus. 



The reason given by LeConte for the suppression of Aploderus and the sub- 

 stitution therefor of Phlcoon.-eus Erichs., is not, in tlie opinion of the writer, 

 a valid one. As long as a certain definite described species is stated by an 

 author to be the type of a genus, the genus must be considered established, 

 even though not described. 



