THE COLEOPTERA OF OLD CALABAR. 451 



the closest affinity. Tliey are confined, the one (Actenodes) to America, and the other 

 (Belionota) to Africa and the Old World. Actenodes chaUbeitarsis from Mexico may 

 be contrasted with my Belionota Championi* from Old Calabar in PI. XLVII. figs. 5 

 and 5 a. 



Lampetis, or Psiloptera, is foimd all over the tropics ; but the Old-Calabar species is 

 closer to some of the South- American species than to the East-African or Indian species. 

 Psiloptera equestris from Brazil is figured in PI. XLVII. fig. 6, alongside my Lampetis 

 piperata f from Old Calabar, fig. 6 a. 



The Lamellicornes in like manner present similar affinities. Among the Cetoniadse, 

 perhaps the most striking is the almost exclusive possession respectively taken of Ame- 

 rica by the Gymnetidae, of Africa by the Pachnodae, and of the Indian district l)y the 

 Protsetise. This is not the place to discuss the value of the different characters used 

 to distinguish these groups ; nor do I at all mean to indicate that I consider the three 

 I have mentioned as of equal value. They are undoubtedly not so ; Protcetia and Pach- 

 noda are greatly nearer to each other than Gymnetis to either of the others. Biit I 

 place them together as alliances in a certain sense. They are examples of a not very 

 uncommon mode in which affinity may be traced, — viz. when a general resemblance 

 remains, while some considerable deviation has taken place in the structure. In Gym- 

 netis and Pachnoda, for example, the colouring, texture, and peculiar dull velvety ap- 

 pearance are preserved, while the structural characters have deviated. Every systematic 

 naturalist will acknowledge the great assistance he derives in tracing out the true rela- 

 tions of species from some indefinable family resemblance or trick of the visage, which 

 suggests the idea and sets him in the right track, but which he finds it impossible to 

 render into words. Such is the resemblance between Pachnoda and Gymnetis. At the 

 same time it is a resemblance which, while suggesting a common parentage, according 

 to the Darwinian theory, cannot be cited as indicating more than a very distant rela- 

 tionship. 



* Nigro-fusca, capite thorace et subtus chalybeo-cuprea parum purpurata ; capite declivi, oculis magnis fere 

 verticem capitis attingentibus, Venice linea Isevi striata, antice irvegulariter punctato, maculis parvis Isevibus, clypeo 

 subbilobo ; thorace antice angustiore, aiigulis antice declivibus, basi recto, ante scutellum utrinque valde sinuate et 

 exciso, magna profunda fovea semilunari transversa utrinque versus latera posita, paulo pone medium fovea et an- 

 gulis posticis parum aciculatim lineatis ; scutello longissimo, thorace longiore (quarta parte elytrorum longitudine) ; 

 elytris basi utrinque angulato-attenuatis, apice apiculato, ad suturam siuguhs quinquecostatis, punctatis, punctis a 

 retro formatis, costis, punctis et textura paulo ut in Necrodi, costis tertiis et quartis conjunctis paulo pone medium : 

 subtus lateribus punctatis et aciculatim lineatis, medio Itevi ; prothorace rotundatim et late carinato ; segmentis abdo- 

 minis ad latera apiculatis, medio longa plana hand profunda fovea, utrinque Isevi carina metata aciculatim punctata ; 

 femoribus aciculatim lineatis. 



Long. 12 lin., lat. 4 lin. 



t Supra aureo-cuprea, irregulariter profunde impressa vel punctata, nigro vel viridi-nigro maculata, subtus ohaly- 

 bea ; clypeo emarginato, labro transverse, mandibulis rotundis crassis molaribus ; thorace antice angustiore, lateribus 

 angulatis, basi siuuato, disco irregulariter spatiis Isevibus notato, punctis confluentibus et rugosis SEepius latera versus 

 instructo ; scutello minuto, rotundato et convexo ; elytris apice attenuatis, ad humeros angulatis, lateribus sinuato- 

 angulatis paulo pone humeros, apice attenuato emarginato rugose striato-punctatis, spatiis leevibus nigris disco irre- 

 gulariter maculatis, lateribus magis rugosis et metallicis : subtus prothorace et mesosterno tricarinato, carina bilineata ; 

 pedibus chalybeis, punctatis. 



Long. 12 lin., lat. 4h lin. 



