318 Mr. A. Murray on Coleoptera from Old Calabar. 
of the Pselaphide, where it is of another character. Further, in 
this same heteromerous group we have a number of species 
where the elytra are very much diminished in size, and some 
(as Myodites) where they are almost as little developed as in 
Atractocerus. Again, in this family the number of abdominal 
segments varies in different genera, the number being merely 
a subordinate (generic) character; so it is with the Rhipipho- 
ride. Now such resemblances or coincidences are to me very 
suggestive of affinity. We find constancy and inconstancy 
characteristic of whole sections of animals and plants. One 
tribe of plants the horticulturalist can bend in every direction 
he pleases; another is like cast iron, immoveable. It would 
be a phenomenon casting doubt on its affinity to find a plant 
apparently belonging to the latter varying like the former. I 
do not think that, in this present case, the existence of the. 
curious phases of development to which I refer tells us more 
than that the Lymexylonide belong to that part of the Hetero- 
merous family in which similar variations are found. Their 
nearest allies among the latter must be sought on other grounds, 
viz. the ordinary similarity of parts. Such a constitutional cha- 
racter 18 more vague, and, although probably as certain, extends 
over a wider field. I therefore think Westwood was wrong in con- 
demning the earlier British entomologists who wished to place 
Lymexylon with Cantharis (for, before Westwood spoke, others 
had already seen the Heteromerous affinity) merely because he 
thought it came nearer Helops and Melandrya, and still nearer 
the Malacodermata. The character reaches as far as the ab- 
normal deviations in question extend. 
If the reader asks why I, holding that this is not the proper 
place for this family, still place it here, my answer is that I do 
so for his convenience; he would not look for it anywhere 
else. And as this is not an attempt to amend the classification 
of Coleoptera, but simply to record what species are found in 
Old Calabar, I sink my own opinions on such theoretical points 
and place the species in the order where they will most naturally 
be looked for; and that is, in the order followed by Lacordaire. 
Where I can follow my own proclivities without inconvenience, 
I do so. 
Cleride. 
STIGMATIUM, Gray. 
Stigmatium dorsiger, Westw. Proc. Zool. Soc. 1852, p. 37. 
I can see no difference between my specimens and Westwood’s 
description of this species, except that he says that under a lens 
the surface of the elytra is finely punctate. In my specimens 
there is some fine granulation, but no punctation. 
