232 



nvroLAiirsis. 



sufficiently robust, elongate, parallel and subcylindrical or (in a few 

 species, as in H. aestivalis and H. porcidus) very broad, short and 

 globose : the surface is for the most part antemedially transversely 

 depressed, giving a prominence, more or less distinct, to the humeral 

 or scutellary angles; in all the species punctate -striate, and pubescent 

 or subpubesccnt : the colour in the different species has a degree of 

 uniformity ; it is always fuscous or fiavo-fuscous ; occasionally nigro- 

 fuscous ; never brightly coloured or variegated by distinct markings. 



Legs robust ; in general form a greater similarity is apparent than 

 is the case with other parts of the body. The anterior femora, when 

 viewed from in front, are cylindrical, generally attenuated towards 

 tho base, and sometimes towards the apex, where they are for the most 

 part abruptly truncate. The tibiee are (more or less distinctly) in- 

 curved at their immediate base, straight, slightly thickened towards 

 the apex, and in some species distinctly flattened longitudinally 

 when viewed from behind ; that is, of a triangular rather than of a 

 cylindrical form. The tarsi are in all the species short, frcquently 

 scarcely two-thirds the length of the tibiae ; the first and second joints 

 arc subequal, and in form triangular (the second being a trifle shorter 

 and perhaps broader than the first) ; the third is much broader than 

 the basal joints, transverse, and more or less distinctly bilobed ; from 

 the base of the third proceeds the terminal joint, which is, as usual, 

 attenuated and subincurved ; the terminal claw is bifid, and robust at 

 the base : for the most part, certainly, the claw is simple and un- 

 armed; in one or two species, however, there may be traced the 

 rudiments of an inner basal tooth. Posterior femora broadly in- 

 crassated, and more evidently elongate than in the preceding genus, 

 Poebates. The tibice are short, incurved at their immediate base. 

 straight, and dilated at the apex; the surface is longitudinally 

 flattened (and also medially subcompressed when viewed directly 

 from behind) ; this flattened surface is in some species slightly grooved, 

 and terminates in a socket for the reception of the tarsus, which ap- 

 pears to be more shallow and less excavated than in other genera; in 

 //. degantula this socket is fringed with a few short and straight 

 comb-like teeth. The tarsus is short and attenuate, the apical claw 

 being quite concealed by the inflation of the last joint. 



A very difficult group : it is composed entirely of minute species. 

 After many weeks of careful microscopic investigation, I have 

 ventured to bring all the species together under a single genus. It 

 will have been obvious, from the preceding generic diagnosis, that 

 there is very much dissimilarity in general form among the species 

 included; nevertheless there arc between these several divergent 

 forms so many connecting links and intermediates, that 1 am quite 



