Genera of the CossonidoB. 533 
34. Alaocyba (Ferris, in Aheille, vii. 31. 1870). — 
I am indebted to Dr. Sharp for a type of the very rare 
genus Alaocyba, — namely the dimmutive A. carinulata, 
which was taken by M. Raymond in Sardinia ; and, after 
a very careful inspection of its details, I feel satisfied that 
it is truly distinct from Raymondionymus as represented 
by tiie larger species which have been referred to that 
group, though I am less convinced that it differs generi- 
cally from the smaller ones which are equally cited as 
Raymondice (or Raymondionymi). Indeed one of them, 
the " R. Delarouzeei,^^ which has been communicated by 
John Gray, Esq., appears to me to possess all the essential 
characters of Alaocyba, as contradistinguished from Ray- 
mondionymus ; and I have no hesitation therefore in 
regarding it as pertaining to the foimer, rather than to the 
latter ; and it is not unlikely that one or two of the others, 
when properly overhauled, may prove to be AlaocybcB. 
Be this however as it may (for I have had no opportvmity 
of examining them), I consider the carinulata and Dela- 
rouzeei as at any rate belonging to Alaocyba, and the 
much larger, darker, and in many respects differently 
constructed, Marqneti as a Raymondionymus proper; 
and it is on this understanding that I have compiled my 
diagnoses of the two groups. 
As thus defined, Alaocyba may be said to differ from 
Raymondionymus in the much smaller size, extremely 
pallid hue, and more depressed (and perhaps rather more 
setulose) bodies of the insects which compose it, — in which 
moreover the sculpture is less coarse (particularly in the 
A. carinulata, which must be regarded as the type), the 
prothorax is furnished with a more evident medial line, or 
keel, and the elytra are free from the cariniform structure 
(on either side) towards their apex. And, moreover 
(which is of greater importance still), the flmiculus joints 
are more decidedly moniliform (the second one being as 
short and rounded as those which follow it), the legs are 
less thickened, and the tibijB are less broadly dilated, — 
especially the front pair, which are not scooped-out like 
the other four towards their external apex, but merely a 
little truncated. The rostrum, too, is proportionately not 
quite so elongate ; and in the A. carinulata the antennas 
are implanted a trifle flu'ther from its apex. In their 
habits the Alaocybce appear to be very similar to the 
Raymondionymi, — the structure of their compressed tibias, 
although a little less strongly pronounced, being eminently 
