192 INSECTA MADERENSIA. 



Genus 65. METOPHTHALMUS. (Tab. IV. fig. 4.) 



Motsc'hidsky, in Jitt. (scrijjt. ^letaphthalinus). 



Corpus minutum, parallelo-subovatum, depressum, cal\Tim, sculpturatum, Lathridio babitu proximum 

 sed ab co valdc distinctum : capite porrecto costatOj ad latera crenulato ; oculis minutis valde 

 convexis subconicis, supra marginem capitis lateralem omnino sitis atque ex lentibus paucis com- 

 positis : prothorace elytris angustiore, sulcato, ad latera crenulato rotundato et late complanato : 

 alls obsoletis. Antenna (IV. 4 a) ad basin ab oculis remotre, et supra marginem (ad angulos 

 anteriores) capitis insertfe, lO-articulatre, clavatse, articulis primo et secundo (illo praecipue) 

 magnis crassis (illo subquadrato, hoc globoso), tertio brevi minuto, quarto longiore graciliore 

 subclavato, inde ad octavum longitudine decrescentibus latitudine vix crcscentibus, rebquis 

 clavam magnam laxam elongatam biarticulatam efficieutibus (penultimo brevi subpoculiformi, 

 ultimo maximo elongato-ovato ad apicem internum oblique truncato et setis paucis munito). 

 Labrum prominulum, breve transversum, antice rotundatum integrum. Mandibulas baud 

 observare potui. Maxilla (nisi fallor) lobo singula pubescenti instructie. Palpi maxillares 

 articulo primo niinutissimo, secundo magno crassiore, tertio maximo valde incrassato sub- 

 globoso, ultimo tcrtii longitudine sed graciliore fusiformi apice truncato : labiales brevissimi, 

 articulo primo minuto brevissimo, secundo maximo crasso subgloboso, ultimo minutissimo (aegre 

 observando) mammuliformi apice obtuso setisque paucis obscm'issimis munito. Mentum trans- 

 versum, in parte media transversim punctato-perforatum, antice leviter dilatatum, apice sinuato. 

 Ligula ampla lata, apice vix emarginata. Pedes subgraciles : tibiis rcctis subclavatis r tarsis 

 (IV. 46) 3-articulatis simplicibus, articulo primo secundo vix breviore, ultimo valde elongato 

 fusiformi, ad ajjicem (in anticis saltem) miuutissimc bispinoso unguiculisque simplicibus magnis 

 munito. 

 A /u,€Ta post, et 6cp9a\fj,6^ oculus. 



The very interesting little genus for which Motschulsky has proposed the name 

 of 3Ietaphthalmus, — hut which, since it has not yet heen either puhlished or 

 defined, I have altered to Metophthalmns (as the more correct orthograj)hy), — is 

 c-vidently nearly akin to Lathrklius, though at the same time with abundant 

 distinctive cltaracters of its own which must altogether separate it, generically, 

 from that group. Thus, its 10-jointed antcnnoe, ^ith then* biarticulated club, in 

 conjunction with the remarkable construction of its eyes, which are exceedingly 

 convex (although minute), and placed completely on the upper siu"face of the head 

 (the lateral edges of a\ hich jn'oject perceptibly beyond them), are points amply 

 sufficient, even alone, to separate it from the LctthrkUi, — with which nevertheless 

 in the details of its palpi and feet, as well as in its general contour and deeply 

 sculptured siu-face, it is coincident. A glance, however, at the diagnosis avlLI show 

 that, apart from the more conspicuous points just aUuded to, there are other 

 peculiarities, albeit less apparent, in ^^ liich it does in reality recede from Latliri- 

 dius very considerably, — amongst which, its total freedom from \vings and the 

 serrated margins of its hecal should be especially noticed. Still, it is unquestion- 

 ably in its organs of siglit that its most extraordinary feature is indicated, which, 

 from their anomalous situation and diminutiAc size, and in the paucity of the 

 large facets which unite in composing them, are of a very unusual natiu-e. This type 



