504 WESTWOOD ON THE CERAPTERUS OF SWEDERUS. 



the manner of the Brachini ; the former of vvliich circumstances 

 was also observed by M. Verreaux in the Faussi of the Cape ; and 

 I noticed in my Monograph, that a correspondent of M. Dupont 

 had observed the crepitating powers of P. excavatus, Westw. 



In proposing the separation of these four subgenera from 

 Cerapterus, I have no hesitation in regarding them as of equal 

 value. If the genus is to be dismembered as proposed by Mr. 

 MacLeay, it appears to me to be necessary, in order to preserve 

 an uniformity of value in the characters, that C. Smitliii and 

 C. piceus should be regarded as equally distinct with C. 

 MacLeaii. 



As to the circular progression of the Paussidce, neither pre- 

 viously nor at the present time do I conceive it established, 

 Mr. MacLeay proposes commencing with the true Paussi, 

 thence to Platyrhopalus ; P. Mellii leading to Cerapterus 

 latipes, and Cerapterus MacLeaii to Pentaplatarthrus, from 

 which he returns to Paussus.'^ It is necessary, however, in 

 order to maintain this circularity, that the other genera placed 

 in the family must be got rid of, ** since, if inserted in the 

 above circular series, they appear to interrupt it." 



The genera Hylotorus and Trochoideus are accordingly re- 

 moved from the family ; and I presume that my new genus 

 Lehioderus will be similarly dealt with by Mr. MacLeay ; 

 because, although evidently intermediate between Platyrhopalus 

 and Cerapterus, it interferes with the passage between Platy- 

 rhopalus Mellii, and Cerapterus latipes. Hylotorus, moreover, 

 has so entirely the habit of the family, that, without more deci- 

 sive proof to the contrary, it ought evidently to be retained in 

 the family. As to the relations of Trochoideus, suggested by 

 Mr. MacLeay, with Myrmecoxenus and other genera, such as 

 Cryptophagus, it will be seen by my characters and figures 

 given of it in the Trans. Ent. Soc. Vol. II. p. 96, that it has 

 no relation therewith, but is, on the contrary, closely allied to 

 Endomychus. 



Mr. MacLeay 's observations upon the relations of the family, 

 appear to me to be entirely unfounded. He says that I seem 

 to have been " the first to suspect the aflSnity of Cryptophagus 



'' It will be seen that I pointed out this succession of the genera in my Mono- 

 graph (p. 616), commencing with Pentaplalarthnis, thence to the Paiisui and Pla- 

 tyrhopali, which I regarded as evidently leading to the Cerapteri, considering 

 Pentaplalurlhrus intermediate between Pamsus and Ceraplertis (p. 618). 



