820 Goleopterological Notices, VI. 



covering, some short, slender, more or less erect strigose scales 

 or scale-like hairs. The unique type has the fifth ventral flat 

 and narrowly parabolic in outline. The contrast between the 

 evenly imbricate flat, and the dual vestiture of the convex inter- 

 vals, is very striking. 



MELBOi\US n. gen. 



Body elongate-oval and strongly convex, the surface nearly 

 smooth and densel}" squamose. Head not separated from the 

 beak by a transverse depression, having a minute interocular 

 fovea. E]yes oval, convex, distant from the prothorax and very 

 obtusely pointed beneath. Beak only slightly narrower than the 

 head, longer than wide, feebly dilated at apex, the alse broadly 

 rounded. Mentum large, filling the entire buccal opening. Scrobes 

 narrow, deep and well defined throughout, obliquely descending 

 to the lower angle of the eye. Antenna? long, the scape rather 

 thick and short, gradually enlarged at apex, extending beyond 

 the middle of the eyes ; funicle long but somewhat thick, filiform, 

 the two basal joints longer, the second longer than the first and 

 about twice as long as wide ; tliree to six equal and only slightly 

 longer than wide; seventh slightly thicker and much longer than 

 the sixth, obconical ; club well developed, fusiform, somewhat 

 obliquely pointed, as long as joints fo'.ir to six of the funicle 

 combined, and about twice as thick. Ocular lobes completely 

 obsolete and with the edge not at all fimbriate. Scutellum very 

 short and broad, not entering the disk of the elytra. Prosternum 

 extremely short and broadly, feebly sinuate before the coxa, long 

 and subcarinate along the middle behind them. Middle coxje 

 narrowly, the posterior more widely separated. Metasternum 

 moderately long, the episterna narrow, internally and angularly 

 prominent anteriorly, defined by a distinct suture. Abdomen 

 long, the first suture moderately- coarse, straight at the sides, 

 arcuate in median half; second segment much longer than the 

 next two combined. liCgs moderatel}- long and rather stout, the 

 femora not much inflated ; anterior tibiiv only feebly arcuate 

 toward apex, not denticulate within, the posterior straight, mod- 

 erately dilated at apex, tlie articular surface oblique and with a 

 double outer edge, tlie internal spur not distinct; tarsi well de- 

 veloped, spongy-pubescent beneath, the third joint broadly bi- 

 lobed; claws rather long, divergent. 



