XTLOTRUPES. 



263 



fine irregular puncturation. The elytra have a very fine and close, 

 but irregular and coriaceous, puncturation. The pygidium is 

 moderately strongly and closely punctured, becoming rugose at 

 the sides, and its ventral portion is smooth and shining. The 

 abdomen is shining beneath in the middle and irregularly rugose 

 at the sides. 



The head is armed with a horn projecting obliquely forward 

 and upward and nearly straight, but terminating in two diverging 



Fig. 69. — Xylotrupes gideon, male (natural size), with outline of female (a) 

 and outlines of anterior part of males of maximum {h), intermediate (c), 

 and minimum (f/) development. 



points which curve backwards. The basal part of the horn is 

 laterally compressed and almost cai'inate above, ending in a strong 

 compressed tooth, beyond which the horn becomes depressed. The 

 pronotum is drawn out into a cone directed obliquely forward and 

 produced at the apex into a gently curved horn bifid at the 

 extremity, with the points directed a little downwards. The sides 

 of the horn are carinate on the basal part of the lower surface. 

 In fully developed specimens the thoracic horn reaches beyond 



