182 MONOGRAPH OF THE 
could not be made to crepitate; on the contrary, when touched, it 
simulated death by contracting its limbs. The latter variety, how- 
ever, discharged its little battery with facility, discolouring test- 
paper, and staining the hands so strongly that it was not till the 
end of eighteen days that the marks were worn out. On being 
plunged into hot water, its abdomen became very greatly distended, 
as is also observed in Brachinus, &c. when similarly treated. 
The variety with the two horny ventral points was rescued by 
Captain Boys, “from the gripe of a small black ant, which in 
spite of its struggles was bearing it along with the utmost facility, 
holding on by one of its antenne,” thus confirming the fact of a 
connexion between the ants and Paussi, analogous to that which 
exists between the former and Claviger, &c., and leading to a clue 
for the discovery and capture of other species. 
Figs. 5 a, and 54, represent the antenne in different positions, 
and 5c, the underside of the abdomen. 
* * Species Arricanm, (Plate 91.) 
Species XV.—Paussus excavatus, Westu:. 
(Plate 91, fig. 2.) 
Obscure fusco-rufescens vel castaneus, capite et prothorace paulo obscurioribus, antennarum 
clava lata ovata basi hamato margine antico acuto et 4-foveato, postico valde excavato 
marginibus sinuatis, capitis vertice bi-impresso, pedibus posticis latissimis. Long. corp. 
lin. 2. 
Habitat in Senegallia, Mus. Dupont. Parisiis. 
Syn.— Paussus excavatus, Westw. in Linn. Trans. xvi. p. 637, pl. xxxiii. fig. 60, 61. 
Paussus crepitans, Dupont, MSS. 
The figure now published was made during a recent visit to 
Paris, from M. Dupont’s original specimen, which still, I believe, 
remains unique. It is very closely allied to the next species, from 
which, however, its geographical range as well as several structural 
characters seem sufficiently to separate it. 
The two oval excavations on the crown of the head are outwardly 
margined «by two narrow impressed curved lines, which become 
nearly confluent behind; the clava of the antenna is flat beneath, 
and much more strongly punctured than above; the hind part of 
the head is very finely granulated, and the elytra are smooth. 
Fig. 2 a represents the impressions on the crown of the head, 
2 4, the antenna seen from above, and 2 c, the same seen as in a 
transverse section. 
