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XV. Further descriptions of Liicanoid Co\Qo^t&x2i. By 

 Major F. J. Sidney Parry, F.L.S. 



[Read 6th April, 1874.] 



Fam. CHIASOGNATHID^. 

 Gen. Sphenognathus. 



The insects pertaining to the genera Chiasognathus and 

 Splienogjiathus appear at the present period to be exdu- 

 sively distributed over the several countries which form 

 the western portion of Southern America, their habitat 

 extending, as far as we at present know, from Cohimbia 

 to Chih ; hitherto thej have been but scantily represented 

 in our collections, and of the genus Sphejioc/nathus, 

 S. prioJioidcs, Buquet, and S, Feistliameli, Guerin, were 

 for a long period the only two species known to ento- 

 mologists, Avhereas at present we are acquainted with four 

 species of Chiasognathus and twelve of Spheyiognathus, 

 and it is more than probable that others will hereafter be 

 added to the list. Much difficulty is experienced in 

 determining the species of the genera forAvant of sufficient 

 material illustrating the various developments of the 

 insect, and, further, the abnormal state they so often pre- 

 sent (in reference to their pubescent condition) is a great 

 stumbling-block to the entomologist, the normal state of 

 the species being seldom available for description. 



The following are the characters of several new species 

 which have recently fallen under my notice, represented 

 unfortunately (with the exception of *S'. nobilis) by single 

 specimens only. I have also given the diagnosis, accom- 

 panied with a figure of a species recently described by 

 Mr. C. Waterhouse, and furthermore a list of all the 

 species belonging to both the genera alluded to up to the 

 present period. I may also mention that a 3rd edition of 

 a general Catalogue of all the species of Lucanoid Cole- 

 op tera, hitherto described, is nearly ready for publication. 



TRANS. ENT. SOC. 1874. PART III. (jULY.) 



