ccx Mr. Newmans Descriptions 



the two prior descriptions : the characters, however, are drawn up with Professor 

 Germar's usual skill, and the location of the insect in the family Colydii is con- 

 firmed: — "Fam. — Colydii. Genus — Sigerpes, Germ. Antennae mediocres, 

 1 1-articulatse, articulo primo incrassato, sequentibus brevibus, ultimis tribus dis- 

 tincte crassioribus, transversis, ultimo truncate. Palpi breves, flhformes. Oculi 

 parvi, parum prominuli. Caput postice constrictum, collo exserto. Pedes brevi- 

 usculi, omnes basi distantes; tarsis 4-articulatis, articulis simplicibus. Genus 

 Pycnomeris affine, sed clava antennarum 3-articulata, collo exserto, et thorace 

 elongato, postice valde angustato distinctum." 



The fourth and last notice is that with which Mr. Wollaston has so kindly fur- 

 nished me, and which is printed verbatim above. The characters drawn up from a 

 single specimen of Deretaphrus fossus of course have a tendency to restrict the limits 

 of the genus, and thus to corroborate the previously expressed opinion of Erichson 

 that certain of the species should be eliminated. My own opinion, not to be 

 weighed in the balance against that of Erichson and Wollaston, is rather the ex- 

 tension than the restriction of generic divisions on account of the encumbrance 

 to Science caused by the multiplicity of names ; but I cannot conclude this 

 remark without inviting the attention of entomologists to the profound knowledge 

 and genius of Erichson, who, from descriptions of a few words each, could pro- 

 nounce unhesitatingly an opinion on the affinities of insects, which should be 

 confirmed by the independent testimony of Professor Germar and the careful 

 dissections and elaborate investigations of Mr. Wollaston. 



Deeetapheus Wollastoni. 



Niger, prothorace confertim ptmcto, punctis confluentibus, elytris argute carinatis 

 interstitiis prof wide ac striatim punctis. (Corp. long. *47 unc. lot. -14 

 unc.) 



Black ; head coarsely punctured ; prothorax deeply and coarsely punctured, the 

 punctures confluent ; at its base, and extending nearly to the centre of the disk, 

 is an obscurely defined sulciform median depression, and parallel with this, on 

 each margin, is a ridge or keel of corresponding length, which does not follow the 

 curved margin of the prothorax where it widens, but is continued in a direct line 

 towards the anterior margin, ceasing, like the median depression, about half-way 

 between the anterior and posterior margins of the prothorax : elytra carinated, 

 the keels (nine in number on each elytron) sharply produced and strongly pro- 

 nounced ; the first next the suture is the least elevated ; each interstice is im- 

 pressed with a series of deep punctures : the under surface of the entire insect is 

 deeply and regularly punctured. 



This species somewhat resembles Deretaphrus fossus in size, habit and colour ; 

 but the sculpture, as described above, is perfectly distinct. It forms part of a rich 

 collection made in the vicinity of Moreton Bay, North Australia, by Mr. James 



