474 MR. C. WITH ON PHALANGIIDA 
As will be seen later on, I am very doubtful as to the real 
systematic value of most of Thorell’s genera, if the claim to 
systematic distinction be regarded as an expression of natural 
relationship. In the future, it may or may not be possible to 
establish good genera on the old characters or new ones. If it 
be not possible to do so, the only means of forming a system 
will be by comparing species, to find out their nearest relation- 
ships with regard to all characters and the facts of geographical 
distribution. But to do this we must have much more material. 
DESCRIPTION OF GENERA AND SPECIES. 
The genera Hypsibunus, Th. 1891, Ceratobunus, Th. 1889, and 
Zaleptus, Th. 1876, were each established by Thorell, and very 
well founded for his time ; but when the Indian species are taken 
_ into account, they certainly fail. Let us first examine the 
difference between Zaleptus on the one hand, and Giagrella and 
Melanopa &c. on the other. The scutum of the first is always 
unarmed, that of the latter is provided with a spine or tubercle. 
The legs of Zaleptus are more or less long; the legs of Giagrella 
and Scotomenia are excessively long or short. Zaleptus minutus, 
n. sp., however, has rather short legs, and one of three specimens 
is provided with a very small, but distinct abdominal tubercle. 
The legs of Ceratobunus brevipes are almost as short as those of 
Scotomenia. The genus Zaleptus cannot be regarded as a natural 
one. ‘The difference between Zaleptus and Ceratobunus lies in 
the dentition of the tubercle. Ceratobunus has, according to 
Thorell, two or four thorns on the tubercle, whereas the tubercle 
of Ceratobunus brevipes bears four or six; and as Hypsi- 
bunus vigilans has two or none, the definition becomes 
unsatisfactory (comp. Thorell, 12. p. 678). 
The ocular tubercle of Hypsibunus is as high as broad; 
in Zaleptus and Ceratobunus it is lower; but since Zaleptus 
hirsutus, n. sp., and Gagrella nobilis, n. sp., have the tubercle 
almost as high as broad, I do not think that this character has 
much value. 
Although I am convinced that the genera named have no 
systematic importance, I retain them for practical purposes. 
Hyersizunus, Thorell, 1891. 
H. diadematus, Th.—Tubercle armed with five teeth. Colour 
