COLEOPTERA. — COSSYPHIDES. 



313 



The small group Cossyphides*^ is arranged by Latreille in the sec- 

 tion Taxicornes, but appears rather to enter the preceding family. It is 

 composed entirely of exotic insects of anomalous forms, but in which 

 the mouth nearl}-^ resembles that of the Helopidae. Some of these 

 insects resemble the flattened species of Peltis, having the body nar- 

 row, but with the margins of the thorax and elytra extended into a 

 flattened shield all round the body : this is the case in Cossyphus 

 i^Jig. 37. 1. C.Hoffraanseggii), which is further distingaished by having 



Fig. 2n- 



the antennae terminated by a 4- or 5-jointed club (^fig. 37. 4. ; 

 Jig. 37. 2. maxillary ; and 37. 3. labial palpi). Mr. VV. W. Saunders 

 has published a short notice respecting an Indian species of this 

 genus, in the Trans. Ent. Soc. (vol. i. p. 61.) found by him under the 

 bark of the Mango (Mangifera indica), and Lichi (Dimocarpus Litchi), 

 the remarkable flatness of the insect allowiag it to creep into very 

 narrow crevices, and its dull colour resembling that of the bark, and 

 rendering it difficult to be observed. The New Holland genus, 

 Helaeus, is somewhat similar in form, but the thorax is advanced 

 on each side, and meets in front over the head, forming an anterior 

 excavation, exposing only its upper part. In the South American 

 genus, Nilio, the head is exposed, but the body is of a hemispherical 

 form like a Coccinella. 



* BiBLioGR. Refer, to the Cosstphides. 

 Kirltij, in Linn. Trans, vol xii., antl in Zool. Journ. (Encephalus.) 

 Guerin and Ferchcron. Gen. des Ins. Col. pi. 11. 

 Latreille. Regnc An. vol, iii. pi. 17. 

 Guirin. Icon. R. An. t. xxxi. 

 Germar. Ins. Sp. Nov. 



