72 Coleopterological Notices. 



somewhat resemble Trog-ophloeus in external facies. They are at 

 once distinguishable, however, by the extremely large, externally 

 angLilate and open anterior coxal cavities, the open portion beyond 

 the coxte having- a large trochantin or plate, which probably serves 

 the purpose of an operculum ; they also differ by having a row 

 of short rather robust and distinct spinules along the outer edge of 

 the anterior tibige. The genus is rather closely related to Ancyro- 

 phorus, the latter being distinguished by the visible scutellum and 

 rather longer and more conical fourth joint of the maxillary palpi. 

 The affinity with Oxytelus is much more remote, not only in habi- 

 tus, but in the special modifications of structure. 



The eighth ventral segment of the males, as usual in this portion 

 of the Oxytelini, is longitudinally divided throughout its length, 

 forming two distinct parts which overlap. In the present genus 

 the overlapping edge is parallel to the axis of the body, and the 



at least tolerate, the adoption for generic names of any combination of letters 

 ■which is moderate in "length, easily pronounceable, and which has a Latin 

 form or habitus so to speak, and although Aploderns may not be as good 

 Greek as Haploderus, it is at all events a certain definite combination of 

 letters, having a Latin form, and easily pronounceable, and could not be 

 altered even by the author himself. 



Although generic names are generally taken or derived from the Greek, 

 they cease to be Greek and become Latin as. soon as publislied over a descrip- 

 tion, and Aploderns is as good a Latin word as Haploderus, or Bledius, or 

 Hamletia. The only reason for altering a name once published is because of a 

 t.vpographical error which may either delatinize it, or render it unpronounce- 

 able. 



If generic names be not considered as Latin simply and solely, we are 

 continually guilty of a " barbarism" of the worst kind — the modification of a 

 Greek word by a Latin adjective. It being granted therefore that generic 

 ■words are Laiin and not Greek, it follows tiiat the gender of specific names 

 should depend upon the ending of the generic name in its Latin sense, i. e., 

 ■words ending in a, is, and e are feminine, e. g. Ti/loderma lerea and not cereiim. 

 Unfortunately there are many words used for genera ■which are perfectly 

 Greek in form and not Latin ; in these cases the only course to pursue is to 

 give to the specific names genders which coincide with the Latin equivalent, 

 e. (/., Medon fuscidum and noi fuscidus. 



The reason given by LeConte for the suppression of Aploderns and the sub- 

 stitution therefor of Phloeonseus Erichs., is not, in the opinion of the writer, 

 a valid one. As long as a certain definite described species is stated by an 

 author to be the type of a genus, the genus must be considered established, 

 even though not described. 



