valuable works. Excepting the power it possesses of conceal- 

 ing its antennae and legs in grooves, there does not appear to 

 be any good reason for placing Throscus with the Byrrhida^ 

 for neither the trophi nor antenna? agree with those of the 

 genera contained in that family. Linnaeus had placed our in- 

 sect from analogy with the Elaters, and Latreille for the very 

 best reasons, viz. the affinity of the trophi, has finally adopted 

 the same arrangement : we shall therefore offer no apology for 

 departing from the more generally received opinion in this 

 country, but merely observe that the FAaters are provided 

 with the same means of protecting their antennae ; and we 

 consider the form of this organ a generic and not a family 

 character, since they are sometimes even flabellate, at others 

 pectinated or serrated in the males and simple in the females. 

 It is probable that Throscus lives in wood in the larva state. 

 No species has been described until now, excepting 



1. T. dermestoides Linn. Syst. Nat. 2. 656. 38. — adstrictor 



Payk., III., Fah., Panz. 75. 5. — clavicornis Oliv. 2. 



j)l. 8./ 85. 



Taken the middle of June and July by Mr. Bainbridge with 



Anaspides, from white thorns and umbelliferous plants, near 



Bexley, Kent ; also by Mr. Westwood in sand-pits and upon 



paling at Coombe Wood. 



For the following remarks we are indebted to Mr. West- 

 wood. 



2. T. obtusus Westw. Mss. — Nob. 



" My new species is distinguishable from T. dermestoides not 

 only by being much smaller, of a more castaneous colour, and 

 a broader outline (whence my name obtusus), but also by the 

 front of the head wanting the two elevated lines observable 

 in that species. I have as yet seen but three specimens of it ; 

 one of them was found at the foot of a pollard oak in Plaistow 

 Marshes by my friend A. Cooper, Esq. R.A., and the other 

 two specimens were beaten by myself likewise from an oak- 

 tree near the village of Ensham (between Oxford and Witney) 

 at the beginning of last September." 



It may be further observed, that T. dermestoides has the 

 thorax minutely as well as coarsely punctured, the elytra more 

 deeply striated with punctures, having an irregular row of large 

 punctures between them. 



The plant is Dianthus Armeria (Deptford Pink) from 

 Darent Wood. 



