INSECTA MADERENSIA. 253 



Genus 90. MELYROSOMA, Woll (Tab. V. fig. l et 2.) 



Corpus parvum, plus minusve elongato-suboblongum, molle, nigrum, Melyricli affinitate proximum 

 sed ab illo certe distiuctum : capite leviter rotundato, ocuHs pvoininulis, cli/peo brevi mcmbranaceo : 

 prothorace rotundato-subquadrato : ehjtris phis minusve costatis : alis ami)lissimis. Antenna 

 (V. 2 a), pi'sesertim in maribus (V. 2), longiusculse serrato-filiformes, in utroque sexu simplices, 

 infra ocuiorum marginem anticum (et ab illis remotse) insertse, articulis primo et secundo intus 

 subclavato-nodosis (illo robustiore longiore), tertio brevi gracili extus oblique leviter producto, 

 reliquis (ultimo ovali excepto) sequalibus intus acutissime et subrequaliter serratis. Labrum 

 (V. 2 b) eoriaceura limbo membranaceo, transversum, antice rotundatum. Mandibula (V. 2 c) 

 magnse cornese latte, apicem versus acutissimoe bifidae, intus minutissime subcrenulatse et mem- 

 brana angusta tenuissima auctse. Maxilla (V. 2 d) biloboe, lobis membranaceis apice pubescen- 

 tibus : externa latiusculo : interna breviore angustiore. Palpi subfiliformes ; nmxillares articulo 

 primo parvo, secundo et tertio crassioribus subsequalibus, ultimo elongato subfusiformi basi 

 truncato ad apicem aeuminato ; labiales (V. 2 e) e scapis submembranaceis ligulfe connatis 

 surgentes, articulo primo parvo, secundo paulo majorc crassiore, ultimo elongato subfusiformi 

 basi truncato ad apicem aeuminato. Mentum (nisi fallor) veluti e duplici parte formatum, alia 

 terminali (ad latera rotundata) coriacea antice membranacea, alia basali (prioris stipite) subcornea 

 apice coriacea (ad latera in angulum medium plus minusve producta). Ligula elougata mem- 

 branacea pilosa, apice biloba. Pedes longiusculi graciles : tibiis subcylindricis : tarsis (V. 2/) 

 articulis quatuor baseos (primo et secundo prjecipue) subtus leviter oblique productis (primo bre- 

 viuscvilo basi subrecondito, secundo, tertio et quarto sequalibus paulatim minus obliquis), quinto 

 elongato vix subclavato imguiculis (V. 2 g) niagnis valde bifidis munito. 



A Melyris (genus Coleopterorum), et crco/ia corpus. 



A very interesting little genus, approaching closely, in general affinity and 

 contour, to 3Ielyris, though at the same time with abundant distinctive features 

 of its own. Thus, the structure of its antennae and palpi should be especially 

 noticed, — the former of which have theu' third joint (which is the longest of the 

 whole in Melyris proper) excessively small and obliquely produced e^rternally, the 

 fourth to the tenth being very acutely (and equally) serrated within ; whilst the 

 latter are greatly attenuated at their extreme apex, instead of (as in Ilelyris) 

 robust and obtuse, Added to which, its bifid and more acute mandibles, the short 

 and j)artially concealed basal articulation of its feet, and its deeply bipartite claws, 

 in conjunction with the less transverse prothorax, slenderer legs, and the small- 

 ness of the species which compose it, are all of them characters which wUl serve 

 to separate it from the members of that group. 



194. Melyrosoma oceanicum, Wall. (Tab. V. fig. l.) 



M. robustum nigrum et pilis brevibus subdepressis parce vestitum, capite prothoraceque ruguloso- 

 subpunctatis, elytro singulo costis tribus (externa fere obsoleta) longitudinaliter instructo, inter- 

 stitiis profunde, crebre et rugose (sed vix seriatim) punctatis, antennarum basi tarsisque fusces- 

 centibus. 

 Mas vix minor, antenuis paulo lougioribus. 



Long. corp. lin. li-2. 



