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On the (jeiuiH Amblyopinlts, and description of n, new species 

 j'roin Tasmania ; by the Rev. A. Matthews, M.A. 



The geuus Amhhjopinus was iustituted by M. Solsky iu 1875*, 

 to receive two species of Brachelytra, which had beeu found iu 

 South America, in the condition of pseudo-j^arasites iipon certain 

 species of Field Mice. In form as well as iu their habits these 

 animals were somewhat anomalous, and it was not Avithout 

 hesitation, that M. Solsky placed them among the Tacliyporidie. 



In the summer of 1877, Mr. Janson received a collection of 

 Coleoptera from Mr. Simsou, of Gould's Country, Tasmania, 

 among which he noticed two specimeus of a strange looking 

 Brachelytron, and on reference to the list of localities found 

 that they had been taken fi'om the fur of a living Rat. This 

 imusual habitat brought M. Solsky's Memoir to his recollection, 

 and he very kindly forwarded the insects to me for dissection, 

 sending at the same time the whole of M. Solsky's descriptions, 

 transcribed verbatim fi-om the original publication. 



Siuce then I have dissected one of these iusects, with great 

 care, and have made complete preparations of every part of 

 their external anatomy. I have also carefullv compared each 

 part with fi-esh dissections of the analagous organs of the 

 Tachyporidce and the Staphylinida', and "will now proceed to 

 detail the result of my observations. 



It is first of all necessary to presume that the insect whicli I 

 am about to describe is a. true species of Ainblyopinus, but on 

 this jjoint, although I have never seen any of the specimeus 

 found by M. Solsky, I have very little doubt, his figures and 

 descriptions are so full and clear, tliat I think their generic 

 identity is obvious. 



But if tliis is the fact, I cannot coincide witli M. Solsky in 

 placing Ainblyopinus among tlie Tachyporida' ; the oulv 



* Hora- Socirfutis Entoinoloiiictc Iioxxicce. T. xi. p. ](). 



