( 167 ) 



XIX. Descriptions of three new Genera of exotic Coleoptera. 

 By J„ O. Westwoob, F.L.S., &c. 



[Read March 3rd, 1851.] 



The three insects which form the subject of the present com- 

 munication are worthy of attention, on account of their severally 

 presenting an external resemblance to groups to which naturally 

 they do not belong. The first of these beetles has in fact been 

 mistaken for a small species of Lucanidae, to which family however 

 it only bears a relation of analogy, whilst in affinity it is naturally 

 very closely allied to the genus Ips. The second species has a 

 very close prima facie resemblance to the heteromerous genus 

 Cossyphus, and yet it possesses no real relation thereto ; and the 

 third species is most nearly related to Trogosita, although its 

 slender filiform antennae and general form give it the appearance 

 of some of the smaller Scaritidce. 



These analogical resemblances are highly interesting, on account 

 of the clue which they have been supposed to afford to the natural 

 classification of the groups to which, by affinity, they belong, and 

 as indicating, by parallelism, the precise position of these analogous 

 species or genera in the respective families to which they belong. 



Paromia, Westtv. Gen. Nov. 



Corpus oblongum, subdepressum, parallelum, postice rotun- 

 datum. Caput porrectum, horizontale, pronoto parum angus- 

 tius, parte antica angustata, longitudinaliter sulcata. Labrum 

 minutum, porrectum, angulis anticis rotundatis, ciliatum. 

 Mandibulce porrectae elongatae, apice curvatae bifidae, intus 

 ciliatae. Maxillae transversim insertae, lobo unico apicali 

 elongato, valde setoso, obtuso inermi. Palpi maxillares lobo 

 vix longiores, articulo basali minimo, haud in tuberculum 

 elongatum insidenti ; articulisque intermediis brevibus obco- 

 nicis, apicali longiori, apice parum attenuato. Mentum trans- 

 versum corneum, basi paullo latius, angulis anticis rotundatis. 

 Labium breve et angustum, margine antico parum emarginato. 

 Palpi labiales minuti, subfiliformes ; articulo basali minimo, 

 Stio elongato ovali, lingua e laciniis duabus elongatis ultra 

 marginem anticum labii exsertis, setosis divaricatis compressis 

 formata ; maxillarum lobo ciliato ad latera laciniarum (insecto 

 quiescenti) applicato. Antennae breves, 11-articulatae, clava 

 3-articulata, articulo ultimo mamillaparva terminali instructo; 

 singula in canali laterali faciei inferae capitis recepta. Pro- 

 thorax brevis transversus, angulis anticis porrectis, lateribus 



