1138 COLEOPTEKA 



sternum grande, coxis intermediis sat distantibus ; metastermim sat 

 grande, utrinque anterius ad peduin intermediorum receptionem 

 profunde impressum. Coxae posteriores intus magnae, a sutura recta 

 arete conjunctis. 



The minute insect forming this very distinct genus will be readily 

 recognised by the peculiar antennas, and the fact that the inflexed 

 and retracted head is in contact with the mesosternum, which as thus 

 exposed bears a remarkable resemblance in form and position to the 

 prosternum, as seen in many Coleoptera. I have only a smashed 

 example at my disposal for ascertaining the characters, and am 

 unable to see the parts of the mouth ; the small anterior part of the 

 head is prominent, but the mandibles are apparently covered by the 

 labrum, and no palpi are visible ; the eyes are of moderate size, and 

 the antennae are inserted between the eyes ; the space between the 

 eye and the base of the mandible forming a deep depression for the 

 reception of the base of the antennae in repose. The anterior coxa 

 are transverse, and are attached by the base to the infolded side of 

 the pronotum, but I cannot detect any prosternum either in front 

 of them or between the tips ; the femur is rather widely separated 

 from the coxa by the interposed trochanter, and the tibia is dilated 

 externally near the tip, the minute tarsus being protected by being 

 folded backwards and placed in close apposition with the tibial dila- 

 tation. The mesosternum is placed on the same plane as the meta- 

 sternurn, and extends, in an example in the position of contraction, 

 quite visibly on either side in front of the middle coxae; this is 

 rather large and has a visible trochanter. The front outer angle of 

 the metasternum is occupied by a deep depression for the contracted 

 middle leg, and there is a minute appendage to the larger depression 

 for the accommodation of the tarsus. The hind coxae are transverse, 

 their inner margins are closely interconnected, and their outer por- 

 tion is deeply impressed, as in the Elateridce, for the accommodation 

 of the femur ; there are five ventral segments, the basal one showing 

 a deep depression on either side for the reception of the contracted 

 tibia. The hind tarsi are small, five-jointed, the four basal joints 

 small, but the first of them rather larger than the following, the 

 fourth is emarginate above for the reception of the small terminal 

 joint. I do not detect any tibial spurs. 



There can be no doubt that this little insect should be placed 

 amongst the Dascillidae, though it does not appear to be allied to 

 any of the known forms of that family ; it has, however, consider- 

 able affinity with Chelonarium ; and, though this genus is at present 

 located by systematists in the Byrrhidae, it certainly should be 

 transferred to the Dascillidae, so that this affinity does not, in my 

 opinion, invalidate the position I propose for Amplectopus. 



2019. A. OValis, n.s. (Sharp; Trans. Roy. Dub. Soc., 1886, 

 p. 404.) Ovalis, sat convexus, pallide brunneus, pubescentia de- 

 pressa, pallida, minus dense vestita, antennis articulis 4-11 nigris ; 

 haud dense, fere obsolete punctatus. 



Long., 2min. 



