isro] 2(»l 



points of titrueture are directly related to the preservation of the crea- 

 ture from small ])arasitc3. AVe have here an extensiTO field in which 

 " natural selection " may be suppose to operate in the most direct 

 manner. Finally, I would add, that I think it will very likely be found 

 that insects which are greatly modified for a very protected or quiescent 

 life of this sort, are remarkably often primitive forms. The most 

 beautiful instance of complete protection of the sort with which I am 

 myself acquainted, is to be found in the " kugelformige," or rolling- 

 up, TrogidcG. 



VATESTJS, n. (jen. 



Head extremely small in proportion to the prothorax, its vertical part forming 

 a plane at right angles to the plane of the clypcal portion, so that when the head is 

 extended, the vertical plane is horizontal and the clypcal one perpendicular ; this 

 perpendicular portion is to a great extent occupied by two large depressions in which 

 are the cavities for the insertion of the antennae ; the space separating these two 

 large cavities is somewhat prolonged in front, is transversely convex, and to its front 

 margin is attached the large labrum: the eyes are very peculiar inform; when looked 

 at from the front, each eye appears as a perpendicidar external wall to the large 

 antennal cavity, while, seen from the side, each eye presents a considerable superficies 

 looking outwards ; when looked at from the front, it is seen that the round articular 

 cavity for the insertion of the antenna is nearer to the top than to the inferior 

 boundary of the perpendicular portion of the eye. 



Maxillary palpi elongate, first joint short, second curved and elongate, third 

 slightly longer than second and scarcely more slender than it, fourth elongate and 

 slender, but considerable shorter than third, and scarcely half so stout as it, quite 

 acuminate. Pronotum forming a very convex surface, the hind margin of which is 

 sinuate on each side, the hind angles greatly rounded, the sides finely margined, 

 curved, and extremely narrowed towards the front ; the front margin is very small in 

 proportion to the others, and forms an arch for the accommodation of the head, the 

 front angles being extremely obtuse. 



Looking at the undcr-surface, the sides of the pronotum extend greatly beyond 

 the prosternum, so that the front legs, when contracted, are entirely concealed ; tlio 

 prosterimm is but a narrow band, placed quite in front of the coxa?, and leaving them 

 completely exposed ; the cox£c are very largo and inflated, and the head can be 

 dcflexed, and applied closely to the small portion of the thorax that is in front of 

 and between them : the front femora arc short, broad, and plate-like, their lower 

 edge being deeply channelled for the reception of the tibia?, the channel extending 

 to the point of the trochanter ; the front tiblre are short, compressed, and arc rather 

 attenuate towards the apex, their hinder face is armed with stout spines, and their 

 apex possesses several long spines, which greatly conceal the upper face of the front 

 tarsi ; these are five-jointed, and in the male arc ratlier broad, but the basal joints 

 can scarcely be said to bo dilated, as they are not much broader than the terminal 

 joint, they are clotlied beneath with long hairs, the fifth joint is broad and longer 

 than the two preceding ones together. The mesosternum forms a transverse baud, 



