NOTES ON THE FUMEIDS. 89 
the front legs; and the antenne, which are quite flat and rudder-shaped, 
can be hidden in the cavity of the breast, so that they offer no weak 
point to the jaws of the ants. Even when a Xenocephalus is lying on 
its back it is not easy for the ants to attack it before it is on its legs 
again. Other Heiton guests of the genus synodites in the family 
Hister tdae, being of a perfectly oval four- sided shape, are protected 
ay this in the same manner as the Xenocephalus by its tortoise-shell 
orm. 
It may be mentioned that this oval shape, with the antenne, and legs 
which can be drawn in, is common to the whole family of Histeridae 
whether they occur with ants or not. This, however, is not the case 
with Xenocephalus whose protective shield is specially provided to 
enable it to dwell with the hordes of wander-ants, as it is not found, at 
least in the same degree of perfection, in the allied non-myrmecophilous 
Tachyporimt. We must, therefore, consider this shield to be an adaptive 
character. A new genus, Hcitowenus, which was discovered by Father 
C. Heyer, §.J., with Eciton coecum, in Rio Grande do Sul, has been 
added to the already known genera of the Xenocephalini—Xenoce phalus, 
Wasm., and Cephaloplectus, ‘Shar soon be described. 
The African genus Cossyphodes elim eave to the family Colydiidae, 
show some splendid examples of the protected guests. The upper side 
forms a long elliptical arched disc, under which the real body of the 
beetle is hidden. The sides of the disc are slightly bent, and touch 
the ground. The head which forms the first part of the protecting 
disc is very peculiar, the eyes being marked on it like two small black 
warts. All the rest of the head lies on the underside and is furnished 
with its own gorge-plate. The antenne can be wrapped up on each 
side under this plate. Dr. Brauns found lately Cossyphodes bewicht, 
Woll., in great numbers under stones in company with Pheidole 
punctulata, Moyr., at Port Elizabeth, in Cape Colony. He wrote to me 
about it as follows: “‘ The insect was sitting in the midst under the 
ants and ran hurriedly about amongst them wherever the sun shone 
on the overturned stone. The ants paid no attention to it, and from 
time to time it ducked itself flat against the stone when it got too 
much mixed up with the crowd of ants. The protective shield is 
beautifully developed and its colour is the same as that of the ants.” 
It is not necessary, however, to go as far as Brazil to find good 
examples of protected guests, as in the Staphylinid genus Dinarda (see 
plate, fig. 2) we possess good examples. The broad flat thorax, the 
elytra, keel-shaped at the sides, and other peculiarities, insure their being 
at least tolerated, as they render them unattackable and invulnerable. 
(Lo be continued.) 
Notes on the Fumeids, with descriptions of new species and 
varieties (with Plate), 
By T. A. CHAPMAN, M.D., F.Z.8., F.E.S. 
(Continued from p. 62.) 
In using the anterior tibial spur as a character for distinguishing 
the Fumeid species, it is necessary for accuracy to mount the tibia, 
take a camera sketch of it, and measure the tibia and spur, but if the 
forelegs are well extended such a sketch can often be taken without 
removing and mounting the limb, and to distinguish them, for most 
