Mr. J. O. Westwood’s Observations. 7 
XV. Observations upon the structural Character of the 
Death Watch (Atropos pulsatoria), with Description of a 
new British Genus in the Family to which it belongs. 
By J. O. Westwood, Esq., F.L.S., &c. 
[Read February, 1840.] 
Havine had occasion to remark in my Introduction to the Modern 
Classification of Insects, that the species of the family Psocide 
require a more minute investigation than had previously been 
given to them, and having been compelled, from an examination 
of my own collection, to establish a new genus, and at the same 
time to remark that the genus Cecilius of Curtis appeared to be 
founded upon a sexual character, I consider myself fortunate in 
being able tolay before the Society a notice of some other interesting 
modifications of structure occurring in the family. Mr. Curtis and 
myself have observed that the antenna in this family consist of 
about thirteen joints. Dr. Burmeister, in the new part of his 
Handbuch, however, describes the antennz of Atropos (which name 
he changes to Troctes) as having only ten joints, and that of Psocus 
and his new genus T’hyrsophorus, as possessing only eight joints, 
observing of the former of these genera, ‘J. Curtis giebt 13 
gleider an, ich sah nie mehr als 8,” (p. 775, note). The careful 
examination which I made of numerous individuals of the genus 
Psocus convinces me that there are thirteen joints in the antenne, 
whilst the antennee of the Atropos pulsatoria are 15-jointed, as 1 
have ascertained by a careful examination of many living speci- 
mens of various sizes, in which also the labial as well as the 
maxillary palpi are exserted, although Burmeister says ‘ die 
Lippentaster fehlen.” It is therefore important to ascertain with 
precision the Alropos pulsatoria, and its very common occur- 
rence in neglected boxes of insects enables us at any time to 
examine it in a living state. Its principal characteristics consist 
in having the prothorax very short, the meso- and meta-thorax 
united into a square plate, the hind femora greatly incrassated, 
the tarsi 3-jointed, and the antenne 15-jointed. I have repre- 
sented it in my vol. 2, p. 18, fig. 59, 19. Now Burmeister’s 
generic description agrees herewith, except in the number of joints 
of the antennz. De Geer has also given a figure of this species, 
vol. 7, t. 4, f. 2, representing the quadrate meso- and meta-thorax 
and the thickened femora of the hind legs. Burmeister, however, 
does not quote these figures, but refers 4. pulsatoria to De Geer’s 
