Genera of the Cossonidce. 533 



34. ALAOCYBA (Ferris, in Abeille, vii. 31. 1870). 

 I am indebted to Dr. Sharp for a type of the very rare 

 genus Alaocyba, namely the diminutive A. carinulata^ 

 which was taken by M. Raymond in Sardinia ; and, after 

 a very careful inspection of its details, I feel satisfied that 

 it is truly distinct from Raymondionymus as represented 

 by the larger species which have been referred to that 

 group, though I am less convinced that it differs generi- 

 cally from the smaller ones which are equally cited as 

 Raymondice (or Raymondionymi). Indeed one of them, 

 the " R. Delarouzeei" which has been communicated by 

 John Gray, Esq., appears to me to possess all the essential 

 characters of Alaocyba, as contradistinguished from Ray- 

 mondionymus ; and I have no hesitation therefore in 

 regarding it as pertaining to the former, rather than to the 

 latter ; and it is not unlikely that one or two of the others, 

 when properly overhauled, may prove to be Alaocybce. 

 Be this however as it may (for I have had no opportunity 

 of examining them), I consider the carinulata and Dela- 

 rouzeei as at any rate belonging to Alaocyba, and the 

 much larger, darker, and in many respects differently 

 constructed, Marqueti as a Raymondionymus proper ; 

 and it is on this understanding that I have compiled my 

 diagnoses of the two groups. 



As thus defined, Alaocyba may be said to differ from 

 Raymondionymus in the much smaller size, extremely 

 pallid hue, and more depressed (and perhaps rather more 

 setulose) bodies of the insects which compose it, in which 

 moreover the sculpture is less coarse (particularly in the 

 A. carinulata, which must be regarded as the type), the 

 prothorax is furnished with a more evident medial line, or 

 keel, and tbe elytra are free from the cariniform structure 

 (on either side) towards their apex. And, moreover 

 (which is of greater importance still), the funiculus joints 

 are more decidedly moniliform (the second one being as 

 short and rounded as those which follow it), the legs are 

 less thickened, and the tibiae are less broadly dilated, 

 especially the front pair, which are not scooped-out like 

 the other four towards their external apex, but merely a 

 little truncated. The rostrum, too, is proportionately not 

 quite so elongate ; and in the A. carinulata the antennas 

 are implanted a trifle further from its apex. In their 

 habits the Alaocybce appear to be very similar to the 

 Raymondionymi, the structure of their compressed tibiaa, 

 although a little less strongly pronounced, being eminently 



