M ELANDRYAD.E. MELANDRYA. 33 



form : labial thickened exteriorly, ovate : labium membranaceous, entire : 

 labrum deeply emarginate : head exserted, deflexed: eyes large, reniform : 

 thorax subcylindric, immarginate : body oblong, hairy, with the head and 

 thorax narrow: elytra ample, soft: legs elongate, pilose ; tibicB slender, 

 without spurs at the apex ; tai-si spongy beneath, with the penultimate 

 joint subcordate. 



The great length of the terminal joint of the antennae, especially 

 in the males, is a conspicuous character of the insects of this genus ; 

 which are also distinguished from the remainder of the family by 

 having the head and thorax considerably narrower than the elytra, 

 these last very broad, soft, and flexible ; and the tibiae spurless. 



Sp. 1. hirta. Villosa, nigra subnitida, elytris nigro-punctatis pallide testaceis. 

 (Long. corp. 3 — ij lin.) 



Ch. hirta. Linne.— Marty n Col. pi. 11. f. 55.— La, hirta. Stepli. Catal. 2i6. 

 No. 2451. . " 



Black, slightly shining, villous, pubescence on the head and thorax fuscous : 

 head sparingly punctured : thorax also slightly punctured, with a transverse 

 impression before the base : elytra broad, slender, flexible, pale testaceous, 

 with a short cinereous pile, and thickly rugose-punctate : legs and antenna 

 black. Male narrower, with the antennae longer, and the terminal joint 

 considerably elongate. 



Extremely abundant on flowers and in hedges, during the months 

 of June and July, throughout the metropolitan district ; and not 

 uncommon in other parts. " Near Swansea, not uncommon." — 

 L. W. Dlllwyn, Esq. " Fens near Ely." — Rev. L. Jenyns. 

 "Weston." — Rev. A. H. Matthews. "York and Newcastle." — 

 W. C. Hewitson, Esq. " Plymouth, Bath, Caernarvon, &c." — 

 C. C, Bahington, Esq. 



Genus CCCCXLVI. — Melandrya, Fahricius. 



Antennas short, slightly pilose, curved, subfiliform ; basal joint robust, second 

 shortest, third also abbreviated, shorter than the fourth, which, with the 

 three following, is subobconic, the remainder shorter, with the terminal one 

 ovate, acute. Palpi unequal; maxillary large, considerably exserted, the 

 second and third joints obconic, the apex of the latter with a fascicle of hair 

 vnthin, the terminal very large, elongate-obtrigonal, dilated within and 

 deeply channelled; labial with the terminal joint also obtrigonal, com- 

 pressed, and grooved within : head nutant, rather narrower than the thorax, 

 which is flat, subtrapeziform, with the sides immarginate and a little nar- 

 rowed behind: body somewhat depressed, elongate, narrowed anteriorly: 



Maxdibijlata. Vol. V. 29th Feb. 1832. d 



