96 Mr. G. Lewis on 



But it is necessary to note that in other genera tlie strise 

 only help to identify certain species. In Plcesius and Placodes 

 they can only be used as specific characters. Plcesius cossy- 

 ])kus, Mars., and striatipecfus, hew., are extremely similar, 

 but the latter alone has a bistriate prosternum, and the same 

 differences clearly sei)arate ellipticus, Mars., from javanus, 

 Er. In the genus Placodes, caffer, Er., has strise, and they 

 are wanting in eheninus, Lew., species which otherwise are 

 superficially very much alike. 



It is to be regretted that at the present time there are 

 genera which are not well defined, notably Lioderma, Apo- 

 lletes, Phelister, and others, but, as time goes on, with in- 

 creasing knowledge, some future student of the group may 

 see a way to point out some salient characters not at present 

 obvious, and, perhaps, by fuither subdivision introduce a 

 more intelligent systematic arrangement. 



Marseul^s monograph will, however, remain the initial 

 work on the family, and the figures of the species, drawn by 

 him at the time of writing his descriptions, are so charac- 

 teristic that they lead generally to the certain identification 

 of the species. But in his time more material was wanted 

 for an efficient classification, and not much advance has been 

 made since for the same reason. 



List of Genera and Species. 



Lioderma pervalidum, Blaisdell. Hister similis. 



Ilypoj^olenus, gen. nov. Microlisler Sheppardi. 



Apobletes poeualis. Margariuotus, Marseul. 



pumicatus. Carcinops Voulogeii, Thery. 



I'latvli.ster niponensis, Lexo. Mouoplius Braunsi. 



I'latysoma germanum. Probolosternus brevistriu3. 



Coriiilliis, gen. nov. Exosteruus rufulus. 



Contipus, Marseul. Reuiuus Salvini, Leiv. 



Eugiammicus, gen. nov. puncticollis. 



Zabromorphus ordinarius, Eretmotus planifrons. 



Coptochiliis, Rey. tbveisterniis. 



Heterognatbus, liey. Onthopliilus niponensis. 

 Hister Marseuli. 



Lioderma jyervalidiim, Blaisdell, Lew. Ann. & Mag. Nat. 

 Hist. xiv. p. 139 (190i). 



L. 12-16 mill, (absque mandibulis). 



A series of this Californian species has been sent to me, 

 and I understand that it will be shortly described in America. 

 It is very distinct from yi/catecum, Mars., by its more 

 elongate and parallel outline, by being slightly more convex, 

 by the second dorsal stria being complete, by the elytra being 



