38 HYPOCEPHALUS. 
I yesterday suggested to you in your own library, and which I now 
have more fully detailed. Having now examined the genera most 
nearly allied to Hypocephalus in Mr. Hope’s collection, I am quite 
convinced that Hypocephalus is a Longicorn, and belongs to the 
sub-family of the Prionide, in the vicinity of Dorysthenes [Cyrto- 
gnathus Fald. Prion. rostratus and Pr. paradoxus]|—Spondylus, 
Trictenotoma and Amallopodes, Dup. (Acanthinodera Cumingii, 
Hope) ; from all which genera Hypocephalus borrows some of the 
characters. 
“Commencing with the antennee, I find the greatest resemblance 
between those organs of Hypocephalus and Spondylus, owing to 
their shortness and moniliform figure, which we observe not only in 
Spondylus, but also in a new curious prionideous insect from 
Cordofan, communicated to me by Mr. Kollar, under the name of 
Prionus Spondyloides, and which I have also seen to-day im 
Mr. Hope’s collection*. The whole structure of the head is still 
more nearly alike in Hypocephalus and Dorysthenes; and I find 
no other difference except the curious mode of articulation of the 
head with the prothorax in the former genus. The mandibles 
moreover in Hypocephalus are shorter and broader than in 
Dorysthenes, although the large prominent teeth behind the man- 
dibles (which are by no means articulated as might be conceived 
from M. Desmarest’s figure) are more developed in Hypocephalus 
than in Dorysthenes. The other parts of the mouth in both genera 
are entirely similar; and you perceive from the very minute mando 
(or inner lobe of the maxilla) that Hypocephalus must be prioni- 
deous, because the form of that part i is the first family character 
of the Prionide. 
‘‘ As to the prothorax, there is also a great resemblance between 
Hypocephalus and Dorysthenes; and the greatest difference is 
merely its increased length, whilst in all other Prionidze the 
prothorax is broader than long. With this character the short- 
ness of the elytra is in opposition, these organs being as much 
abridged as the prothorax is elongated. This relation, I confess, 
is very abnormal, but not exclusively peculiar among the Longi- 
corns, as proved by the genus Gnoma. Respecting the sculpture 
of the surface, it is the same as in most Prionide, as well as the 
colour and texture, which has in all parts the appearance of a coria- 
* T believe this is identical with Coptocephalus Pe figured in Griffith’s “ Animal 
Kingdom’’—Metopocoilus maculicollis, Serville. J. O.¥ 
