Mr. T. V. Wollaston on the Coleoptera of St. Helena. 411 



fov^eolated behind) having simply a short channel in the centre, 

 and with the frontal space between the antenna3 opaque and 

 coarsely alutaceous, and quite free from even scattered addi- 

 tional punctures. Its prothorax also is less developed, and 

 more narrowed behind, and its elytra perhaps are a trifle 

 shorter. It has been examined by Mr. Hye, who considers it 

 totally distinct from any thing with which he is acquainted. 

 Two examples, which were captured by Mr. Melliss at St. 

 Helena, are all that I have yet seen. 



§ II. Antennarum art^ 3 (yix distincte 7) ulterioribus incrassatis. 

 Oxytelus nitidifrons^ n. sp. 



0. nitidus, capite piceo-nigro, prothorace elytrisque rufo-ferrugineis, 

 his postice obscurioribus, abdomine rufo-brumieo postice obscu- 

 riore, pedibus minus spinulosis rufo-testaceis ; capite prothorace- 

 que brevibus, transversis, confuse at vix dense rugoso-punctatis, , 

 illo antice in medio impunctato nitido (vix alutaceo) convexo, a 

 fronte conspicue transversim diviso, oculis baud prominentibus et 

 sat parvis, maudibulis elongatis porrectis rufo-ferrugineis, hoc 

 confuse trisulcato (sulcis exterioribus postice evanescentibus), 

 postice vix angustiore ; eljtris brevibus, profunde et dense punc- 

 tato-strigulosis ; antennis brevibus, nigris, basi clare rufo-ferru- 

 gineis. 



Long. corp. lin. vix \\. 



A most extraordinary little Oxytelus^ which, from its abbre- 

 viated head and prothorax, and the fact of its antennfe having 

 the three apical joints (rather, perhaps, than the usual seven) 

 conspicuously thickened, might seem at first sight almost to 

 merit generic separation. In many respects, however, it is a 

 good deal on the same type (particularly in colour and the 

 large development of its mandibles) as the 0. insignitus^ an 

 American species which has established itself in the Madeiran 

 group; but (judging from the single type now before me, 

 which was taken by Mr. Melliss) it is apparently a little 

 smaller than that insect, and its head, prothorax, and elytra 

 are all of them shorter and less developed. Its mandibles are 

 elongated, pallid, and porrect, as in the insignitus ; but its 

 prothorax (which is not only more abbreviated, but less nar- 

 rowed behind) has its outer grooves more confused and poste- 

 riorly evanescent ; and its clypeal space, between the antennge, 

 is not only unpunctured and more polished, but is more evi- 

 dently separated from the head by a transverse basal line. In 

 its rufo-ferruginous prothorax and elytra it is nearly the same 

 as that species ; but the latter seem to have their hinder region, 

 particularly about the outer angles, clouded or darkened. Its 

 eyes also are smaller, and xnoxc frontal in position. 



