SYNORTHUS. 9 



Synorthus gen. nov. 



Body subrotundate, convex. Scutetiwn absent. Thorax and elytra 

 truncate at base. 



Head during repose with the eyes and organs of the mouth uncovered. 

 Labrum transversely quadrate, carinate at base. Mandibles variable. 

 Maxillary palpi with subovate, not acuminate, terminal joints. Antennae 

 11 -articulate, their 1st joint quite free, being attached to the lower part 

 of the forehead, at some distance from the eye, by means of a stalk-like 

 articulation ; they are gradually incrassate from the 6th or 7th joint on- 

 wards. Tibiae without well-marked tarsal furrows, not dilated towards 

 the extremity. Tarsi pentamerous, 3rd joint with membranous appendage. 



Prosternal process projecting into the semicircular mesosternal cavity : 

 it is broader than in Pedilophorus (Morychus), so that the anterior coxae are 

 more widely separated. The posterior coxal laminae differ, their trochan- 

 teral portion being three or four times longer, from front to rear, than the 

 outer, whereas in Pedilophorus they taper gradually towards the sides, 

 their basal portion being barely twice the length of the lateral. It is more 

 nearly allied to Pedilophorus than to Byrrhus, Cytilus, Simplocaria. &c. 



Section 1. 

 Bodv glabrous, or nearly so. Forehead indistinctly margined. 

 Synorthus sternalis Broun. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., September, 1893. 



Glossy, black, front margin of thorax rufescent, legs and basal joint of 

 antennae dark rufous, remaining joints paler, tarsi testaceous. 



Head distinctly but rather finely punctured, more distantly on the middle 

 than at the sides, with a few minute slender setae, the labrum with distinct 

 yellow ones ; forehead broadly rounded, finely margined near the antennae ; 

 basal carina of labrum separated from the forehead by a broad groove. 

 Thorax twice as broad as long, its sides finely margined, straight but nar- 

 rowed anteriorly ; apex widely sinuate and finely margined towards the 

 acutely rectangular angles ; its sculpture like that of the head, but becoming 

 finer and less definite towards the base and sides. Elytra abruptly de- 

 clivous and narrowed behind, their punctation shallow and irregular, a 

 little coarser than on the thorax, the sides and apex almost smooth. 



Tibiae with minute slender grey setae, the anterior nearly straight, 

 with short, external, subapical grooves ; the intermediate more outwardly 

 curvate than the posterior. Tarsi shorter than the tibiae, with well- 

 developed appendages. Eyes large, more prominent in front than behind, 

 with indefinite facets. Antennae pubescent, basal joint thick, cylindric, 

 and nearly double the length of the next, which is not as stout ; 3rd elongate 

 and slender, nearly as long as the following 3 combined ; 4-6 about equal, 

 evidently longer than broad ; 7th longer than broad, only slightly thickened ; 

 8-10 as long as broad ; 11th elongate, yet shorter than the preceding 2 taken 

 together ; the club therefore very elongate, apparently 5- jointed, but not 

 at all well marked off. Mandibles obtusely bifid at apex. 



Underside shining, piceous, with fine brassy hairs, which are more con- 

 centrated on the terminal ventral segment than elsewhere. Metasternum 

 grooved behind, rather finely and not closely punctured, the abdomen more 

 finely and closely, quite densely near the sides. 



Prosternum much abbreviated in the middle, its process plane and finely 

 punctate ; the flanks distinctly curvate and margined inwardly, moderately 



