282 



than the seven basal joints taken together ; it is much compressed 

 and slightly curved. Thorax nearly twice as broad as long, the fore 

 part slightly emarginated, the sides distinctly rounded and the poste- 

 rior margin nearly straight, but slightly produced in the middle ; the 

 upper surface convex, excepting in the middle of the anterior half, 

 where there is a large and rather deep excavation ; the whole surface 

 is distinctly punctured, but the punctures are scattered. A fringe of 

 yellowish hairs is observable on the sides of the thorax. Elytra con- 

 vex, oblong, not broader than the thorax at the base and but little di- 

 lated in the middle j the length exceeds the width by about one sixth ; 

 the surface is covered with smallish punctures, and these are for the 

 most part aiTanged in longitudinal lines. Scutellum of moderate size, 

 and smooth. Pygidiura slightly convex, tw^ice as broad as long, 

 rounded at the extremity, very delicately punctured, and with one or 

 two shallow foveae on each side and near the point. Thorax and base 

 of the abdomen beneath well clothed with long yellowish hairs. Legs 

 moderately long, and clothed with hair ; the anterior tibiae compress- 

 ed, and with three denticulations on the outer side; tarsi longer than 

 the tibiae, and rather slender, the basal joint of each tarsus longer than 

 the three following joints and the terminal joint the longest; the claws 

 rather small, simple and equal, with the exception of those of the an- 

 terior tarsus, one of which (the inner one) has a straight pointed pro- 

 cess on the under side, at the base, which is equal in size to the claw 

 from which it springs ; between the claws is a small appendage, fur- 

 nished at the extremity with two bristly hairs. The insect is black 

 and glossy ; on each elytron is a large deep yellow spot near the scu- 

 tellum, a broadish oblique stripe, commencing a little below the hu- 

 meral angle and terminating near the suture rather behind the middle 

 of the elytra, w^here it is dilated, and throws downwards a short 

 branch, which nearly joins a very irregular subapical spot or spots, for 

 the spot in question is inteiTupted in parts. The antennae are pitchy 

 red ; the basal joint is pitchy, and the club brownish. 



The insect above described was brought from Valdivia by C. Dar- 

 win, Esq. 



It is with great hesitation that I place the present insect in M. Gue- 

 rin's genus Oryctomorphus,* since it differs in having the claws of all 

 the tarsi equal,t and in having the mandibles somewhat exposed. 



* Voyage de la Coquille, p. 79, pi. iii. (Insectes) fig. 3. 

 t None of the claws appear to be ever folded back, as represented in the plate of 

 Oryctomorphus. 



