80 MODERN CLASSIFICATION OF INSECTS. 



Lebife and some other of the Brachinides*, which are found under 

 the bark of trees, it being in such situations in Java that the Mormo- 

 lyce is said to be found. It is subject to considerable variation in size : 

 the largest specimen which I have seen measures three inches and a 

 half in length, and is in my collection. M. Laporte de Castelnau has 

 suggested that the extraordinary larva described by Perty, and sub- 

 sequently noticed under the family Lampyridoe, may be that of Mor- 

 molyce {Hist. Nat. Anim. Art. p. 119.). I cannot, however, adopt 

 such an opinion. 



The genus Ozana Oliv. has been placed by Latreille and Dejean 

 amongst the Scaritides ; its characters are, however, very unlike 

 those of that sub-family ; and M. Lacordaire has observed, that the 

 Brazilian species possess similar explosive powers to those of the Bra- 

 chini ; hence Messrs. BruUe and Laporte have introduced this genus 

 into the latter family. (An?i. Scietic. Nat. June, 1830. Aim. Soc. Ent. 

 France, No. 4.) Most of the species have a curious tubercle near the 

 base and apex of the margin of each elytron. I have published a 

 memoir upon this and some new allied genera in Guerin's Magasin de 

 Zoologie, 1834. 



The extraordinary North American genus Pseudomorpha Kirhy 

 {Linn. Trans, vol. xiv. Heteromorpha Kirhy, ibid., pi. 3. f. 3. Axino- 

 phorus Dej.) may also be here mentioned. Although exhibiting the 

 characters it has not the aspect of a Carabideous insect, and might 

 be mistaken for a large Nitidula. It appears to have been previously 

 described by Illiger under the name of Drepanus. Its situation is very 

 dubious ; Mr. Kirby thinking it nearer to Omophron than to the 

 Brachinides, with which in several respects it agrees, and in which 

 it is arranged by Dejean, whilst Latreille in his last works lias placed 

 it amongst the Feroniens. The head and thorax are very broad, and 

 the legs and antennae short. But a still more extraordinary genus is 

 Adelotopus Hope {Trans. Ent. Soc. pt. 1.), in which the body has all 

 the appearance of an elongated Gyrinus, and the antennae are clavate. 

 In some other respects, it is nearly allied to Pseudomorpha. I have 

 communicated a memoir upon these and some other equally singular 

 allied Australian insects to the Linnaean Society. 



* This opinion has been confirmed by the recently published observations of 

 Co)int Mannerheim, who has described tlie sexual distinctions of this insect. {Bull, 

 Soc. Imp. Mosc. 1837, p. 26.) 



