I9I4-] F- H. Gravely : An Account of the Oriental Passalidae. 217 



found, were living deep down in a very hard dry log on a steep hill-face that had 

 been cleared by the Abors for cultivation. 



Genus EPISPHENUS, Kaup. 

 Episphcnus moorei, Kaup. 

 PI. xi, fig. i6-i6(7. 

 Regd. No. ?51- Ceylon H. Nevill. 



A specimen in the collection of the Bombay Natural History Society is labelled 

 " Nitre Cave," but the whereabouts of the cave is not recorded.' This and No. '1*^ 

 are the only two specimens of this species I have seen. 



Description .—Length 31-32 mm. Labrum broader than long, anterior margin 

 straight or faintly concave, very slightly oblique, sides straight or slightly curved, 

 angles rounded, the left one being somewhat sharper than the right. Mandibles with 

 upper tooth distinct but very small; anterior lower tooth conical, simple on both 

 sides, that of the left side a little larger than that of the right. Lower anterior 

 margin of central part of mentum strongly convex , whole surface elevated in front 

 in middle line, but not separated by groove from surrounding surface. Head smooth 

 or with extremely fine microscopic punctures, except between outer tubercles, 

 where it is marked with large, but somewhat indistinct punctures. Apex of outer 

 tubercles as seen from side vertically truncate, but scarcely forked ; ridges connecting 

 inner and outer tubercles defined on outer side by strong groove. Central tubercle 

 extending backwards between parietal ridges, which extend outwards and, like the 

 supra-orlaital ridges, are more distinctly crested than in the preceding species 

 though less so than in E. comptoni, apical angles of supra-orbital ridges about 120°, 

 ridges hollowed in front as in preceding genus, but less distinctly so, the inner wall 

 of the hollow being almost obsolete though somewhat more distinct than in the 

 following genus. Anterior angles of head slightly more than 120° ; canthus rounded 

 at its extremity. Pronotum smooth, polished, marginal groove fine, incomplete 

 across middle-line both before and behind, median groove complete or obsolete in 

 front; .scars small, linear, indistinctly punctured, nearly vertical. Prothorax beneath 

 as in preceding species SciUellum smooth and polished. Mesothoracic episterna 

 punctured beside anterior margin below, and beside oblique dorsal margin, these two 

 patches of punctures sometimes joined by an oblique sparsely punctured band. 

 Mesosternum with anterior angle finely striatopunctate and clothed with short decum- 

 bent hair, except on a wider or narrower area in the middle-line which is hairless, 

 smooth and polished ; this smooth median area continuous behind with a highly 

 polished keel, which in the Indian Museum specimen is surmounted by a fine Y-shaped 

 crest, but in the specimen belonging to the Bombay Natural History Society is 

 broader, flatter, and very faintly hollowed in the middle line ; keel (in both specimens) 

 bordered on either side by the anterior extremities of a pair of broad, shallow, finely 



' Presumably the specimen is from Ceylon where, Mr. Green informs me, " the Nitre Cave district 

 is away beyond Dumbara and varies in altitude from about 1800 to 3000 ft." 



