INSECTA MADERENSIA. 483 



(sed prsesertim posticis) rotundatis : smtello magno lato subtriangulari : elytris brevibus, apice 

 fere integris : alls obsoletis. Antenna (X. 8 a) prothoracis lougitudiue, clavatre, ante oculos 

 (sed ab illis siibremotse) insertse, articulis primo et secundo valde robustis (illo paulo majore), 

 inde ad octavum gracilibus latitudine subfequalibus, longitudine (a tertio longiusculo) paulatim 

 decrescentibus, reliquis clavam magnam abruptam triarticulatam efficientibus (imdecimo subovato, 

 ad apicem valde truncato). Labrmn (X. 8i) membranaceum subquadratum, antice leviter bilo- 

 bum. MandibulcE (X. 8 c) basi latae, apice robustse comese acutissimse incurvse, infra apicem dente 

 parvo obtuso instructs. Maxilla (X. 8 d) loho singula recto intus dense ciliato instructse, margine 

 exteriore magis robusto et apice leviter producto acutissimo. Paljn maxillares fusiformes, articulo 

 primo parvo, secundo et tertio magnis crassis (hoc illo paulo longiore), ultimo graciliore cylin- 

 drico : labiates (X. 8 e) subclavati, articulo primo parvo, secundo et ultimo magnis crassis (hoc 

 paulo majore et ad apicem suboblique truncato). Mentum subtriangulare, antice valde trun- 

 catum emarginatum. Ligula elongata, antice tenuissime membranacea et leviter biloba. Pedes 

 breves subcontractiles : tibiis anticis (X. 8/) subcurvatis, pone apicem externum dente minutissimo 

 instruetis, posterioribus simplicibus : tarsis 4-articulatis, articulo tertio profunde bilobo (sed, nisi 

 fallor, alterum minutissimum inter lobos baud recipiente), ultimo leviter elongato subclavato. 

 A (TTCvywv gutta, et fiop(f)7] figura. 



The very interesting and anomalous little beetles from wliicli the above struc- 

 tural diagnosis has been drawn out would seem to combine so many of the elements 

 of the various modifications of the Anisotomidre, that, even had they not possessed 

 distinctive peculiarities of their own, it would have been impossible to have re- 

 ferred them to any of the recognised groups. Thus, in their 11-jointed antennae 

 and general aspect they partake a good deal of AgatJikUnm ; whilst in. their 

 diminutive bulk, in the cylindrical apes of their maxillary palpi, and in their 

 tetramerous* feet, they assimilate Calyptomerus. The latter however has not only 

 two lobes to its maxillfe, and its mandibles constructed on a different type from 

 those of om* present insects ; but its antennae are only lO-jointed, with a biarticu- 

 lated clava, — characters wloich obtaiu in Clambiis likewise, and which thus equally 

 prevent us from referring them to that (otherwise not dissimilar) genus. The 

 deeply cordate third tarsal joint, however, of Stagonomorplia, and the single lobe 

 of its masUliB (the hinder edge of which is thickened along its entu'e length, and 

 acumiuated at its extremity, as though the fii'st indication of the narrow and 

 aciculated outer portion which is so apparent in Clamhus and Ccdyptomeriis), in 

 conjunction with the minute tooth near to the external angle of its anterior tibiae, 

 its obsolete wings, and the triarticulated club of its antennae (which are iaserted 

 at a considerable distance in front of its largely-developed eyes, and have theu* 



* M. Eedtenbacher, in bis Fauna Aiistriaca, states the hinder tarsi of Calyptomerus to be triarticulate ; 

 but, as he had only a single specimen to judge from, and since it seems pretty evident that the common 

 Scapliidium diMum of Blarsham (the Clamhus Unsliamensis, "Westsvood), in which all the feet (like those 

 of the true Glamhi) are tetramerous, is a member of the same genus (albeit perhaps distinct specifically 

 from his alpestris), there is sh-ong reason to suspect, as Mr. Haliday has -n-ell remarked, that he was 

 mistaken as to the number, — an hvpothesis which the somewhat obscure natiu-e of the tarsal joints would 

 not tend to render the less probable. 



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