188 



Art. XIX. — Notice of some new Genera mid Species of 

 Brachehjtra. By Rev. A. Matthews, M.A. 



Considering the extent, the interesting economy, and the 

 variety of organization of this section, it is strange that it has 

 not excited more attention among entomologists than appears 

 to have been afforded it. However, it is to be hoped that the 

 extraordinary and novel forms which it presents, such as in 

 the genera Pseudopsis and Diglossa, which have been recently 

 so ably described,^ will invite a more scientific research into 

 their structure and habits. That much is still to be done, must 

 be apparent to all who have examined this class with even the 

 least attention ; and it is soon seen that the more they are in- 

 vestigated, the more curious and interesting the research will 

 prove. 



In the early part of the last spring I devoted much time to 

 collecting and investigating these insects, which abound in this 

 neighbourhood ; and having discovered several apparently un- 

 described species, and among them two new genera, I venture 

 to ask space in your next number for this notice of them. 



It happened, whilst engaged in setting an insect, which at 

 the time I fancied belonged to Conura, or some other genus of 

 Tachyporidce, that I observed two curious spinous processes 

 issuing from its mouth ; I was immediately struck with the 

 strong resemblance which these seemed to bear to the labial 

 appendages of Diglossa, figured in the eighteenth number of 

 the Entomological Magazine, which I had just then received. 

 This led me to a closer examination of the insect ; and having 

 dissected the mouth, I found that the spines proceeded from 

 the extremity of a soft retractile organ, which proved to be the 

 labium. My further attention being excited by this dissection, 

 I afterwards found several species distinctly bearing the same 

 generic characters, and I have ventured to name them Centro- 

 glossa. 



I can hardly persuade myself that a genus consisting of 

 several, evidently different species, and in itself so strongly 

 characterised as this is, can hitherto have escaped the notice of 

 entomologists ; but as I have fruitlessly endeavoured to discover 



3 Entomological Magazine, Vol. II. p. 313; Vol. IV. p. 253. 



