384 Mr. T. Vernon Wollaston on 



In spite of its analogy (however fanciful) in outward contour 

 and hue(tl)ongh not in relative size) with the Madeiran Caulotrupis 

 Chcvrolatii, I have an additional pleasure in dedicating this beau- 

 tii'ul Microxijlobius to M. Chevrolat, since it was he who first 

 established the present genus. It may be at once recognized by 

 its large size, elongate outline, brightly aeneous hue, and very 

 lightly punctulated prothorax. An important character, also, 

 exists in the second joint of its funiculus, which is longer than is 

 the case with the corresponding one in either the M. conicollis or 

 terebrans, — it being not only verij inucli more elongate than the 

 third, but a liUle longer than even the basal one. Two examples 

 of it, which (as I am inclined to believe) maij represent the sexes, 

 and both of which have a powerful spine towards the base of the 

 upper edge of their femora, were amongst Mr. Bevvicke's St. 

 Helena collection. 



2G. I\Hcrod-7jlobius conicollis, n. sp. (PI. 18, fig. !).) 



71/. breviter ovatus, eeneus, nitidissimus ; capite rostrocpic parce 

 et leviter punctatis (hoc valde deflexo) ; prothorace conico 

 (i.e. postice lato necnon ad latera oblique recto), ]iarce ct 

 leviter punctato ; elytris profundis sub-punct;ilo-striatis, in- 

 tcrsiitiis latis leviter et parce punctatis; antcnnis pedibusque 

 nigro-piceis, illis ad basin tarsisque rufescentibus. 



The il/. conicollis is so remarkable an insect that for some time 

 I had conceived that it must be generically distinct from any of 

 the preceding species. Indeed the structure of its funiculus and 

 club (the former of which has its joints more conical, and more 

 compact inter se, whilst the latter is longer and less abrupt), in 

 conjunction with its shortly-ovate outline, its much deflexcd ros- 

 trum, and its extremely glossy, slightly sculptured and arcuate 

 upper-surface, — its prothorax being not only conical (i. e. broadest 

 at the extreme base, and with the sides obliquely straight), but 

 also in a continuous curve with the elytra, — giving it a character 

 peculiarly its own. Nevertheless, in spite of these external singu- 

 larities, in all essential respects it is moulded on the same type as 

 the other Microxylobii, — the immensely developed spine on the 

 upper edge of its thighs being merely somewhat larger than that 

 of the M. Chevrolatii ; whilst its internally-strigulose femora, ob- 

 solete sculellum, and the other details of its structure, are all co- 

 incident with the corres])onding ones of the several members of 

 the genus here described. A single specimen only of it was cap- 

 tured by Mr. Bewickc, during his visit to St. Helena. 



