1 56 Mr. Saunders's Descriptions of new Coleopterous Insects. 



head, being gradually dilated towards the apex, somewhat hollowed 

 beneath, and strongly ciliated (fig. 6. a.)/ 



The purposes for which this singular appendage may have been 

 adapted must be curious matter of conjecture. The prolongation 

 in question, forming by far the most conspicuous portion of the 

 antennae, at first sight presented all the appearance of a distinct 

 joint taking its rise from the knee near the insertion of the other 

 joints, beyond which part it is considerably contracted and more 

 slender than the basal portion ; but after the closest examination no 

 trace of articulation has been discernible. 



In its general character this insect is undoubtedly allied closely 

 to Platypus : the elytra, however, instead of being furnished at the 

 apex with a single obtuse point, are distinctly 4-toothed ; but this, 

 if not indeed existing to an almost imperceptible degree in the 

 smaller species of Platypus, may be simply the effect of greater de- 

 velopment, the carinse of the elytra being prolonged beyond the 

 apex and thus forming the teeth. In the Platypus flavicornis of 

 Fabricius figured by Dalman in his memoir upon the insect found in 

 gum anime, the extremity of the elytra is armed in a still different 

 manner. 



The structure of the lower parts of the mouth however differs 

 materially from that of Platypus cylindrus. In that species the 

 maxillae have but a single lobe ; but in my insect there are evidently 

 two (fig. 6. b.) ; the outer one slender and pencillated at the ex- 

 tremity, the inner one obtuse and armed with flattened bristles. 

 The maxiUary palpi are 4-jointed (which appears to be the case also 

 in Platypus cylindrus), the basal joint being very large, and the others, 

 especially the penultimate joint, being much smaller. In both in- 

 sects the two large basal points are furnished with a singular whirl 

 of long stiffened hairs or bristles set on at right angles, or I should 

 rather say inclining downwards ; and the internal base of the maxillae 

 is furnished with numerous very long and curved hairs. 



Again, in Platypus cylindrus that part which Mr. Curtis, in his 

 beautiful work ' British Entomology', describes as the mentum, is 

 somewhat short and urn-shaped, while in my insect it is much more 

 elongate, and rather in the shape of a champaign glass, widest in 

 front, with the sides nearly straight (fig. 6. c). In Platypus cylin- 

 drus Mr. Curtis considers this organ " to be attached to the surface" 

 (meaning of course the inner surface) " of the covering of the under 

 side of the head." Upon an examination of my insect, however, 

 (for the dissections of which, and of the other insects now described 

 I am indebted to the kindness of Mr. Westwood,) it appears ques- 

 tionable whether the analogous part to which this organ is united 



