382 Lieut.-Co1. Winn Sampson on 



In tills species the number of large spines Is reduced 

 from three to one on each side of the upper margin of the 

 elytral depression^ followed by several (7-8) smaller ones 

 extending down to the sutural apex, on each side. The 

 declivity is very densely covered with stout, short, squamose 

 hairs of a pale yellow colour. 



As it appears that Eichhoff's generic name of Platy- 

 dactylus was preoccupied (Ilagedorn, Deutsch. eut. Zeitschr. 

 1909, p. 733), Dr. Ilagedorn has suggested the name Eury- 

 dactylus, and has made it a subgenus of Xykborus (Coleopt. 

 Catal. Ipidpe, 1910, p. 98). Eichhoff, however, separated 

 Platy dactylus from Xyleborus, and suggested that his 

 Xyleborus abnormis (which is identical with Motschoulsky's 

 Eccoptopterus sexspinosus) was most likely of the genus Platy- 

 dactylus. This Mr. Blaudford confirms (Ind. Mus. Notes, 

 vol. iii. no. 1, p. 64). 



From Mr. Blandford's note on the genus Eccoptoptera, 

 Chaud. (Ent. Month. Mag. series 2, vol. iv., 1893) it is 

 evident that Motschoulsk3''s use of the name Eccoptopterus 

 was fifteen years previous to the use of Eccoptoptera by 

 Chaudoir ; and this is sufficient to prevent the use of any 

 later generic name than the one Motschoulsky gave, and it 

 appears to me better treated as a genus than as a subgenus 

 of Xyleborus. 



Mr. Blandford mentions (Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. 6, 

 vol. XV., April 1895, pp. 323-4) that specimens of E. sex- 

 spinosus, Motsch., from Batchian and New Guinea possess 

 one or two smaller spines on the lateral border of the 

 elytral declivity, and that in a specimen from Borneo there 

 are five spines on each elytron. He also adds that these 

 subsidiary denticles are not constant, nor even symmetrical; 

 and though they do not occur in any Ceylonese or Burmese 

 examples, they do not appear to be indicative of anew species. 



Dr. Hagedorn has described (Deutsch. ent. Zeitschr. 

 1908, Heft, iii. p. 377) Platydactylus sexsjnnosus, Motsch., 

 var. multispinosus (nov. var., Haged.), as having, besides the 

 three strong spines, several (3-5) smaller ones. 



In the species I now describe the diflerence in the spines 

 is much greater (four of the large ones being absent), and 

 the appearance of the declivity is quite unlike that of 

 E. sexspinosus, Motsch. 



As at present known, the distribution of this genus 

 appears to be: New Guinea, Batchian, Damma Is., Celebes, 

 Philippines (Manila), Java, Borneo, Sumatra, Perak, Ceylon 

 (incofiee-and cacao-l3eans), Burma (in rice-plants), German 

 East Africa, Kamerun. 



