Genera of the CossonidcB. 551 
dance of very remarkable features which are essentially 
its own, amongst which the proportions of its abdominal 
segments are by far the most significant, — the first and 
second of them being less elongated, Avhile the third and 
fourth are considerably more so, than is customary amongst 
the Cossonids. The shape of its jDrothorax, likewise, is 
very peculiar, — it being somewhat elongate-quadrate, and 
rather wider (if anything) before than behind ; its scutellum 
is rather large and squarish ; its elytra are bi-arcuated in 
front, and separately rounded-off at their extreme apex; 
its antenntB are slender; and its tibite, especially the 
anterior ones, are armed at their inner angle with a dis- 
tinct spine. The two last-mentioned characters, however, 
are almost equally indicated in Aqrus. 
59. AoRUS (Schonherr, Gen. et Spec. Cure. iii. 253. 
1836). — The genus Aorus was established by Schonherr 
to contain an insect which is found in western Africa, 
and for an opportunity of inspecting which I am indebted 
to Mr. Pascoe. It was placed by Schonherr amongst the 
Cholides ; and although removed by Lacordaire into the 
Cossonidce, it is by no means a very typical member (any 
more than Atnojyhocerus is) of the latter, — for its un- 
usually approximated coxfe, narrow, transverse eyes, and, 
as it seems to me (for the example before me is a good deal 
mutilated), obsolete tibial hook, are all points of great 
significance which would certainly tend to remove it from 
the Cossonids. Still, its other features being on the Cos- 
sonideous type, I have admitted it into the family, — content 
to call attention to these particular characters (whatsoever 
they may be Avorth) of manifest divergence. In other 
respects, Aorus is remarkable for its exceedingly long, 
slender, and very arcuated rostrum (into which the antennje 
are implanted a little before the middle), for its transverse 
eyes being altogether depressed, for the second joint of its 
funiculus being considerably elongated, for its tibi^ (the 
four anterior ones of which are armed with a spine at their 
inner angle) being sparingly asperated, or muricate, in- 
ternally, for its third tarsal articulation being a good deal 
expanded and bilobed, and for its claws being unusually 
minute. In outline it is somewhat long and narrow, — with 
the elytra cylindrical and rather convex, and the pro- 
thorax (the widest part of Avhich is, if anything, a little 
wider than the elytra) large, convex, regularly oval, and a 
good deal (and equally) rounded at the sides. 
