100 AMERICAN ENTOMOLOGY. 



tion of that paper, being induced to examine the descriptions of 

 Fabricius, and Olivier, I perceived at once that the unicolor of 

 Knoch, was not that of those authors. Under this impression, 

 I sent the insect to Count Dejean, under a new name, which he 

 adopted. 



I have been thus particular in this statement, in order to record 

 an opinion which I have always entertained, and which every 

 observation tends to confirm. That it is of no consequence what- 

 ever, who gives a new name, either in a catalogue or letter, or 

 attached to the insect in his cabinet, or elsewhere ; but as it is 

 the describer that incurs the responsibility, his name only ought 

 to be quoted with that of the insect, or other object described 

 by subsequent naturalists. 



Under the operation of this principle, the present species is 

 the 0. viduus Dejean. 



The upper figure of the plate. 



SPHJERODERUS. Plate XLV. 



Generic character. Head narrower than the thorax ; external 

 maxillary and labial palpi, with the last joint dilated, securiform, 

 compressed ; labrum elongated, profoundly emarginate ; labium 

 very large, profoundly emarginate, not wider at base than at tip; 

 mandibles elongated, narrow, biclentate near the tip ; the thorax 

 rounded, not elevated on the sides, nor extended behind ; abdo- 

 men robust, convex; elytra entire, not divided at the suture, 

 carinate each side, embracing the sides of the abdomen ; tarsi 

 with the three basal joints, in the male, dilated. 



The present group was separated from Cyclirus, by Count 

 Dejean, who remarks, that at first view, they resemble some small 

 species of Carabus, and particularly the convexus; that in com- 

 parison with Lhe true species of the genus Cychrus, the head is a 

 little loss elongated, the antennae a little shorter, and the thorax, 

 instead of being cordate, is rounded, oval or orbicular, convex, 

 not elevated on the side, nor behind; the first and second joints 

 of the anterior tarsi in the male, are much dilated, the first, 

 truncate-triangular ; the second, quadrate broader than long ; the 

 third is less dilated, cordate. 



The word Sphseroderus, is derived from the Greek words 



