COLEOPTERA 433 



Fallia Sharp. 



Fallia Sharp, Biol. Centr.-Am. 11. i. p. 629, 



In the original diagnosis the coxae are described as " omnes minutae, globosae": 

 but lower down the same page is the statement "it is probable... that these are larger 

 than they appear to be... I anticipate the structure will be found to be similar to that of 

 the Discolominae." As described above, this anticipation has proved to be correct. 



All the coxae have a globose, darkly coloured apical portion, visible from the 

 exterior, and a very pale concealed part, elongated in the transverse direction of the 

 body. The concealed part is considerably longer in Fallia elongata than in Discolonia 

 vestitiini. The coxae of the middle pair are more widely separated than those of the 

 front pair, and those of the hind pair are still wider separated. The round front coxal 

 acetabula (the term acetabulum here denotes the round aperture in which is seen the 

 globose, exposed, portion of the coxa) are closed behind by the prosternum, which is 

 abruptly bent upwards : a slight elevation of the surface marks the position of the con- 

 cealed parts of the coxae. Front of the mesosternum forming a peculiar slot or groove 

 correlated with the back of the prothorax : below this groove, the mesosternum forms 

 an obtuse free median process, correlated with the slightly excavated upturned part of the 

 prosternum : below the groove also, only one large side piece can be seen on either 

 side, reaching to the round coxal acetabulum, and having on its surface a slight elevation 

 indicating the position of the concealed part of the coxa. Hind coxal acetabula round, 

 each formed by a deep excavation of the hind margin of the metasternum, and a shallow 

 one in the front of the first abdominal segment. Hind margin of the metasternum bent 

 up between the coxae, the bent up part invisible without dissection ; there is also, on 

 either side near the lateral edge of the metasternum, a bent up piece, in relation with 

 the outer (basal) end of the concealed part of the coxa. Dissection also reveals that the 

 front marginal part ot the first abdominal segment is bent up forming a somewhat 

 weakly chitinised wall, which has two concavities exactly fitted to receive the posterior 

 surfaces of the concealed portions of the hind coxae. The floors of all the cavities con- 

 taining the coxae (Plate XV. fig. 38 y?.) are of a membranous consistency, and very hard 

 to detect by ordinary dissection. An attempt is made to show the arrangement of the 

 hind coxae in Plate XV. figs. 38, 39. 



( I ) Fallia elongata, sp. nov. 



Elliptica, nitida, subtilissime punctulata, nigra, antennis pedibusque testaceis plus 

 minusve infuscatis, lateribus subtiliter explanatis ; epipleuris sat latis : his et pectore et 

 abdomine parcius pubescentibus. F.niinori peraffinis sed longior, prothorace parum 

 angustior. Long, circa \\ mm. 



A close comparison of specimens shows that this species is very closely allied to 

 the Central American F. minor Sharp (Biol. Centr.-Am. 11. i. p. 630). The antennae 



56 — 2 



