382 Rev..T, A. Marshall on new Genera 
Adoxus (inglorious) and Eudoxus (glorious) instead. The former 
appellation he applies to the small dark species of Europe, and 
proposes the latter for Humolpus ignitus, Fab., and its congeners, 
the large gorgeous beetles of South America. Such inconsisten- 
cies, however, involving the mere propriety of names, are of little 
moment. 
It will be seen, then, that of the 59 genera proposed in De- 
jean’s Catalogue only 19 have any real existence, leaving us a 
balance of 40 to describe or reject, as the groups indicated may 
seem to require. Hardly any of these genera can be regarded 
as unnecessary, or wholly superseded by the described genera of 
more modern authors. So great is the diversity of the species 
they have been forced to include,that the old names may still in 
most cases be utilized. For example, Mr. Baly’s genus Geloptera 
has hitherto been included under Edusa, chiefly, it would seem, 
because the forms are all Australian. These two genera are now 
sufficiently distinct ; and the true Hdusa only needs characteriza- 
tion to make it a good genus. No valid reason can be given 
why names long known to collectors, and recognized as con- 
venient expressions, should be suffered to fall into oblivion. As 
a matter of convenience, they should rather, when possible, be 
described and perpetuated; thus the collector will find that, 
instead of having to learn a new name, the old idea fixed in his 
mind has, to his great advantage, assumed a real and permanent 
existence, For the future, it is to be hoped that every inventor 
of MS. names will meet with the treatment due to so silly and 
reprehensible a practice. 
I proceed to describe the first uncharacterized genus of De- 
jean’s Catalogue, Metaxyonycha, Chevr., separated by him from 
Colaspis upon slight, although perhaps sufficient, grounds. 
Fourteen species are before me, presenting considerable diver- 
sity of appearance. I have indicated the group or subgenus to 
which each appears to belong, under each species. I purposely 
abstain from making these subdivisions until the remainder of - 
the species shall have become known to me. The differences to 
which J refer concern chiefly the striz of the elytra, the con- 
vexity of the thorax, and other details, none of which appear to 
be of sufficient value to justify the multiplication of genera. 
Genus MerraxyonycnaX, Chev., D’Orb. Dict. 
Colaspis, Fab. Colaspis (pars), De}. Cat. 
Caput verticale, thoraci haud ad oculos usque insertum, inter oculos 
* I have spelt this name correctly for the first time. The derivation 
(wera€d and érvé) is given by Chevrolat in D’Orbigny’s Dict. s. vy. Meta- 
zyonycha. Cf. a similar mistake in Lozotenia, Lozogramma, for Lozot., 
-Loxogr, (Lepidoptera), &e. : 
SS ee ee 
