﻿of Lucanoid Coleophra. 21 



described and figured by Mr. W. Saunders in Trans, Ent. Soc. 

 N. S. iii. 48, pi. iv. figs. 2 & 3 ; the colour of the latter is dark 

 chestnut, whilst L. Champloni is dull black ; it was taken by the 

 late Major Champion at Hong Kong, but specimens have subse- 

 quently teen received from the interior of China, collected by Mr. 

 Fortune. 



Gen. Cladognathus, Burm. Handb. d. Ent. v. 364, 

 Macrognathus, Hope, Cat. p. 5. 

 Metopodontus, Id. p. 4. 

 ProsopocoiluSi Id. p. 4. 



This genus, to which Dr. Burmeister united Hexarthius and 

 Cyclophthalmus of Hope, includes a larger proportion of species 

 than any other belonging to the Lucanoid Coleoptera, comprising 

 nearly sixty in number ; which, with the exception of a few from 

 the eastern and western coasts of Africa, are all either from 

 India and China, or the islands of the Indian Ocean. It includes 

 also the sub-genera Metopodonlus and Prosopocoilus of the same 

 author, both established with reference to the number of spines 

 upon the tibiae as well as upon the bimucronated and excavated 

 anterior part of the head. 



First, with regard to the tibial spines : these are often found 

 to be most variable, and as generic characteristics are, I think, 

 unworthy of the importance which has been attributed to them, 

 especially as a rigid adherence to such a system necessitates the 

 wide separation of species in all other respects intimately related. 



Secondly, with regard to the binodose or strongly excavated 

 character of the anterior portion of the head : this formation is so 

 entirely dependent upon the development of the individual, that 

 it cannot be regarded even as a specific, much less a generic 

 character. I have, therefore, deemed it advisable to unite both 

 Metopodontus and Prosopocuilus with the genus Cladognathus of 

 Dr. Burmeister, which must only be considered after all as a 

 temporary refuge for a vast number of species, forming a peculiar 

 group in this family, and suflSciently aberrant in form and 

 character to justify perhaps their separation into several genera, 

 but our present knowledge of the species is too limited to warrant 

 more than a sectional arrangement. 



Cladognathus politus $, Parry ($ ignota). (PI. X. fig. 5.) 

 C. castaneo - fuscus, nitidws ; mandibulis brevibus, curvatis, 

 dentibus tribus armatis ; capite supra oculos angulato ; 



