172 INSECTA MADERENSIA. 



articulis pniiio et secundo (illo prsecipue) robustis, tertio ad uonum brexdoribus subsequalibus 

 latitudine vix crescentibus, reliquis clavam magnam laxam biarticulatam efficientibus (decirao 

 magno subpoculiforini, undecimo paulo minore suborbiculato basi subtrimcato). Labrum trans- 

 versum, anticc integruiu ciliatuni. Mandibula valida; acutse, ad basin exteniam fisso-sinuatffi, 

 intus excisa; cilialie ct uietubraiia iustructse. Maxillie bdobie : lubo externa subovato, apice valde 

 pubescent! : interno paulo breviore pubescenti. Palpi maxillares artieulo primo angusto flexuoso, 

 secundo et tertio crassioribus subsequalibus, ultimo elongato fusiformi basi truncate : labiales 

 artieulo primo subflexuoso, secundo paulo longiore crassiore, ultimo maximo crasso securiformi- 

 truucato. Mmtum amplum, antice angustatum, summo apice excavato-emarginato. Liyula 

 quadrata, apice membrana divergenti pilosa aueta. Pedes subgi-aciles : tarsis articulis primo, 

 secundo et tertio subajqualibus (tertio subcordato), quarto minutissimo. 



The genus Diphyllm {=B'q}hyllus of Dejean's Catalogue, a.d. 1821), founded 

 on the Bermestes lunatus of Fabricius, combines, to a certain extent, the cha- 

 racters of Cryj)tophafjus and Sihanus, agi'eeing with the former in its general 

 liabits and contom-, in its abruptly clavated antennge, and in the shape of its 

 ligula ; whilst in the structure of its mandibles, maxillary palpi and feet it ap- 

 proaches the latter. In its biarticulated club, and in the greatly developed, securi- 

 form ultimate joint of its labial i)alpi, it differs from them both, — peculiarities 

 moreoA^er which are sufficient, even of themselves, to distinguish it from the other 

 allied groups. By a glance at the above diagnosis, it will be seen that Diphyllus 

 has more in common \\dth Sih-amis than it has with Cvyptophagus ; so that it 

 miijht, not without reason, be svipposed to lead us in the opposite direction to that 

 winch I have endeavoured to make it indicate, that is to say, towards the prcA-ious 

 family, the CucuJuIcb, — a supposition which the large and securiform termination 

 of its labial palpi (in A\hich it assimilates Psammcecus and CryptamorplicC), and its 

 elevated prothoracic striae (in Avhich it approaches Lcemophloeits) would not indeed 

 tend to render the less probable. Still, however, it has so many points of agree- 

 ment vi\i\\ Crypfojjhaffus likewise, that I have preferred placing it in the present 

 position to breaking the link l)etween either Silcanns and Crtjptophagus or be- 

 tween the former and Lcemophloeus, — which I cannot but believe are all too nearly 

 related inter se to render it desu-able to interpolate a form like Diphyllus between 

 them ; and it would be manifestly unnatural, I conceive, to assign it an earlier 

 position amongst the CitcuJidfO, receding as it does in external structure and habits 

 from the normal members of that division. In the selection of its food, Diphyllm 

 does not appear to display any vegetable tendency, — bones, and other partially 

 chied animal substances, being its favourite haunts. 



140. Diphyllus lunatus. 

 D. oblongo-ovatus niger nitidus pubescens, capita prothoraceque pi-ofunde punctatis, hoc transverse 



postice lato, elytris punctato-striatis fascia media communi valde abbrcviata bilunulata albido- 



pubesccnte ornatis, antenuis pcdibusque piccscenti-ferrugineis. 

 Long. Corp. lin. 1|. 



