AMBLISPA. 11 



ovato ; lahudes (fig. 3 e) articulo primo minuto, sccundo clavato, 



tertio ampliato, apice tnmcato. 

 Labium (fig. 3/) oblongo-elongatum, subcimeiformo, apice rotrni- 



datiun, lateribiis infra medium constrictis. 

 Caput supra convexum, antrorsiim vix productum, antice foveis 



duabus maguis, creta clevata separatis (quabus antemiaj inscrta) 



sunt), oculis oblongo-ovatis, postice subsinuatis. 

 Thorax subquadi'atus, lateribus non dilatatus. 

 Scutellum subpentagonum. 

 Elytra thoracis basi paullo latiora, oblongo-elongata, convexa, apice 



rotimdata. 

 Pedes modice robusti, simplices; tarsis articulo primo subhemi- 



s^Aaerico. 

 Corpus elongatum, convexum. (Type, Amhlls])a Ddhrn'd.) 



This genus forms a link between Callispa and Leptispa ; it is sepa- 

 rated from the former by the enlarged truncate terminal joint of the 

 labial palpi and by the undilated sides of the thorax ; from the latter 

 it is at once distinguished by the short basal joint of its antennae. 



Together with the two preceding genera, Amhlispa is distingiiished 

 from all others by having the sutural line, separating the mentum 

 from the ligada, obsolete ; this causes the labium to appear composed 

 of one piece only. I have found the modifications of this organ of 

 great use in the formation of new genera ; it may therefore be 

 desirable to give here a short explanation of the terms made use of 

 in the present work, in order to avoid any unnecessary perplexity to 

 the student, arisuig from the confused nomenclature of the part. 

 The name of labium has been applied by some authors to the whole 

 organ, by others to the upper part only, whilst to the separate por- 

 tions themselves, different names have been given by different authors. 

 In the Hispidce, the Lahhan (Tab. I. fig. A) or lower Hp is generally 

 divided into tln-ee piincipal portions : viz. the Mentum or base ; the 

 Ligula or intermediate division, bearing the labial palpi ; and the 

 Lingua or true tongue ; this last is useless for scientific piu'poses, 

 being semi-membranaccous, and attached quite out of sight to the 

 dorsal surface of the ligula. The Mentum (fig. A, a) in the present 

 group is formed by the union of two segments, separated in the Cara- 

 hidce and other famihcs by a sutural line, but here closely united into 

 a single piece : the basal portion, which, when distinct, is called by 

 some authors the insertion, is connected by its inferior angles to the 

 maxillce ; the upper part, or tme mentum, is generally deeply exca- 

 vated on either side for the reception of the stipes of the same organs : 

 the mentum varies much in size and shape, in some genera being 

 restricted to a short transverse band, in others greatly developed, and 



