1840.] Linnean Society. 'J 5 



25th of May last, viz. Robert Brown, Esq., Edward Forster, Esq., 

 Thomas Horsfield, M.D., and Aylmer Bourke Lambert, Esq. 



Read, "Descriptions of some new species of the Coleopterous 

 genus Cerapterus." By J. O. Westwood, Esq., F.L.S. 



In the present paper the author enumerates eight species of this 

 interesting genus of the family of Paussidcs, which he distributes 

 into six subgenera. The following are the characters of the new 

 species : — 



1. C. Hoi-sfieldli, -piceus ; thorace antice emarginato, elytris maciiht apicali 



flavescente hand rotundata hteram y quodammodo simulante, palpo- 

 rum labiahum articulo uUimo securiformi. 



2. C. quadrinotatus, piceo-niger, nitidissimus ; thorace (antice viso) sub- 



emarginato, maculis duabus mngnis ovaHbiis prope scutcllum, alterisque 

 duabus apicem versus majoribus anticfe et postice lobatis rufo-fulvis. 

 Long. Corp. Hn., lat. hn. 



3. C. piceus, nitidus; autennis pedibusque rufo-piceis, punctis irregula- 



ribus minutissimis. 



4. C. hrasllieiisis, fulvo-rufescens ; ocuHs albidis tenuissime punctatis, ver- 



tice depresso, tliorace intra angulos posticos utrinque foveolato. 

 Long. Corp. lln., lat. lin. 



This remarkable species was discovered by Mr. Miers in the vi- 

 cinity of Rio de Janeiro, and a drawing of the insect accompanies 

 the present paper. Mr. Westwood regards it as the type of a new 

 subgenus, which he names Homoptcrus. 



5. C. Westermanni, rufo-piceus, baud nitidus ; elytris nigris postice cruce 



rufescente notatis basi bicostatis discoque lotigitudinaliter subimpressis, 

 apice rufescente. 

 Long. corp. lin., lat. lin. 



Read also the conclusion of a paper, entitled " Arrangement and 

 Definition of the Genera of Ferns, founded upon their venation, 

 with examples of the species, and observations on the affinities of 

 each genus." By Mr. John Smith, A.L.S. 



The principles of the author's arrangement are similar to those 

 proposed by Presl in his Tentamen Pteridogrcqjhiee, published at 

 Prague in 1836, in which the venation of the frond (a character, the 

 importance of which, combined with the relation of the sori to the 

 veins, was first pointed out by Mr. Brown) is adopted as the basis of 

 generic division. Mr. Smith states that his arrangement was com- 

 pleted before the work of Professor Presl had reached this country, 

 and thinks that the coincidence of their views affords presumptive 

 evidence in favour of the accuracy of the principles upon which 

 their distribution of the species is founded. This extensive family. 



