318 Mr. A. Murray on Coleoptei'u from Old Calabar. 



of the Pselaphidse, where it is of another character. Further, in 

 this same heteromerous group we have a number of species 

 where the elytra are very much diminished in size, and some 

 {as Myodites) where they are almost as little developed as in 

 Atractocerus. Again, in this family the number of abdominal 

 segments varies in different genera, the number being merely 

 a subordinate (generic) character; so it is with the Rhipipho- 

 ridse. Now such resemblances or coincidences are to me very 

 suggestive of affinity. We find constancy and inconstancy 

 characteristic of whole sections of animals and plants. One 

 tribe of plants the horticulturalist can bend in every direction 

 he pleases ; another is like cast iron, immoveable. It would 

 be a phenomenon casting doubt on its affinity to find a plant 

 apparently belonging to the latter varying like the former. I 

 do not think that, in this present case, the existence of the 

 curious phases of development to which I refer tells us more 

 than that the Lymexylonidse belong to that part of the Hetero- 

 merous family in which similar variations are found. Their 

 nearest allies among the latter must be sought on other grounds, 

 viz. the ordinary similarity of parts. Such a constitutional cha- 

 racter is more vague, and, although probably as certain, extends 

 over a wider field. I therefore think Westwood was wrong in con- 

 demning the earlier British entomologists who wished to place 

 L])mex]jlon with Cantliaris (for, before Westwood spoke, others 

 had already seen the Heteromerous affinity) merely because he 

 thought it came nearer Helops and Melandrya, and still nearer 

 the Malacodermata. The character reaches as far as the ab- 

 normal deviations in question extend. 



If the reader asks why I, holding that this is not the proper 

 place for this family, still place it here, my answer is that I do 

 so for his convenience ; he would not look for it anywhere 

 else. And as this is not an attempt to amend the classification 

 of Coleoptera, but simply to record what species are found in 

 Old Calabar, I sink my own opinions on such theoretical points 

 and place the species in the order where they will most naturally 

 be looked for; and that is, in the order followed by Lacordaire. 

 Where I can follow my own proclivities without inconvenience, 

 I do so. 



CleridsB. 



Stigmatium, Gray. 



Stigmatium dorsiger, Westw. Proc. Zool. Soc. 1852, p. 37. 



I can see no difference between my specimens and Westwood's 

 description of this species, except that he says that under a lens 

 the surface of the elytra is finely punctate. In my specimens 

 there is some fine granulation, but no punctation. 



