IV. (^EOSCAPHEUSID.E (Earth-diggers). Fcvm. noo. 



Antennae submoniliform, rather stout, scarcely exceeding one- 

 fourth of the length of the body. Pronotum anteriorly arched, 

 truncate, straight behind, wholly concealing the scutellum. 

 Elytra and wings none. Abdomen very broad, oval, dorsal seg- 

 ments acutely angular, two penultimate segments with a retrorse 

 spine on each side, vent covered hermetically by the last seg- 

 ments. Supra-anal lamina of both sexes subtruncate, entire. 

 Cerci very short, thick, apparently inarticulate, partly concealed 

 by a fold of the segment. Subgenital lamina of male subsemi- 

 circular ; styles none. 



The place of this family has already been indicated, see p. 



Burrowing is a character well developed among the Gryllidse 

 (Mole-crickets, etc.), and indicated by a special modification of 

 the forelegs, viz., the short, thick, flat tibiae, and the long, 

 radiating spines, but I cannot find any references that such 

 habits or modifications have been recorded as occurrinof among 

 the Blattariie, and so distinctly exhibited by the individuals of 

 this monotypic famil3^ An approach is made by the Epilam- 

 PRID.E, and to a less extent by Oniscosoma, a genus of the 

 Paxchlorid^. With these the shortened fore-tibipe are much 

 incrassated, and armed with long stout spines. The latter are, 

 however, still normally arranged, i.e., in two series, and not 

 differing in this respect from the other groups. In the present 

 instance a great departure from the normal type is noted, viz., 

 the conversion of the forelegs, and especially the tibiae, into per- 

 fect digging implements comparable only with those of the Mole- 

 crickets, the fore-tibife being short, broad, and flat, and the long 

 spines arranged digitately in a single series around the margin. 

 A single posterior spinelet denotes the second series. This char- 

 acter, combined with the unique form of the body and the 

 genital appendages have induced me to establish for this species 

 a new genus and family. 



Geoscapheus, gen. nov. {c/e=Q-Avih. ; sca^;/ieMS=digger). 



Body broad, oval, thick, coarsely impressed punctate. Head 

 large, rugose. Antennae moniliform, with joints much thicker 

 than long, about one-fourth of the length of the body, placed in 

 the centre of circular, depressed, whitish areas. Palpi stout, 

 joints subequal. Pronotum transverse; margins slightly in- 

 curved, coarsely punctured ; foremargin arched over the head ; a 

 small, round, depressed area anteriorly, surrounded by a ridge 

 (which is most prominent in front) and separated from the disk 

 by deep furrows ; disk tumid in front, finely jDunctured. Meso- 

 and meta-notum similar, neither excavated nor tumid. Abdomen 

 with eight dorsal segments, very coarsely punctured, liind angles 



