and on some Types of Oriental Carabidae. 185 
Underside with prosternal process widened between coxae, 
narrowed behind, again widened and truncate at apex; meso- 
sternum emarginate behind, epimera not reaching coxal cavities, 
metepisterna long and narrow; ventral surface bordered through- 
out, last three segments transversely bordered. Legs with femora 
clavate; front tibiae deeply excised on inner side, tibiae slender, 
channelled, not dilated at apex, intermediate pair hollowed out 
externally at apex, with a fringe of yellow setae on outer margin 
of excavation; tarsi simple in both sexes, pilose on upper surface, 
joints decreasing in length from 1 to 4, 5 with setae beneath, ap- 
proximately as long as 2-++ 3-+ 4; claws simple. Body glabrous. 
Insect winged. 
Dejean described this genus in his Supplement (Spec. 
Gen. v, 1831, 481), immediately after three species of 
Graniger (Coscinia). Brullé also gave a description (Hist. 
Nat. des Ins. v, 1835, 85), correcting some errors made 
by Dejean. Lacordaire (Gen. Col. i, 1854, 166) placed 
it at the head of his Ditomides, remarking “ Melaenis et 
Coscinia (surtout ce dernier) font le passage des Svagonides 
& la tribu actuelle.” If his Szagonides are placed, as they 
now are, at the end of the Carabinae, this remark is in 
a measure true, for the genus should come near the be- 
ginning of the second great group into which the Carabidae 
are divided, 7. e. Harpalinae of Dr. G. H. Horn, Carabidae 
Conjunctae of Mr. T. G. Sloane. 
Melaenus piger F. Length 8-10 mm. Width 2°5-3-0 mm. 
Dull black, sometimes with a faint purplish lustre; tarsi, labrum, 
palpi, and joints 5-11 of antennae brown, the last with a dense, 
short, yellowish pubescence. 
Head convex (about 1-6 mm. wide), coarsely punctate, not at all 
contracted behind, sides forming a ridge in front of eyes, clypeus 
smooth, bisetose. Prothorax convex, slightly transverse (about 
2-0 x 2-5 mm.), slightly emarginate both in front and at base, 
rather more contracted at base than at apex, sides rounded, hind 
angles forming a small rectangular tooth, front angles well marked, 
about rectangular; median line strongly impressed, not reaching 
extremities, basal foveae almost obsolete, surface rather coarsely 
punctate, a little more sparsely on disk. LHlytra (about 3-0 « 5-5 
mm.) moderately convex, parallel, shoulders well marked, border 
forming a blunt tooth, directed forwards, at the point where it 
terminates over stria 5, punctate-striate, striae deeper towards sides 
and apex, intervals gradually narrower and more convex towards 
sides. Underside coarsely punctate, but elytral epipleurae smooth. 
