428 Extract from Note Book regarding the Genus Paussus. [No. 138. 



appears to divide the thorax into two nearly equal portions. The 

 head is almost triangular, with a rather deep excavation on the frontal 

 margin ; the posterior part of the head presents a strong emargination 

 rising in an arch between the eyes, which last are large, prominent, 

 rounded from above, reniform if seen at the side. Palpi elongated, 

 conical, those of the maxillaries overarching the labial, approximated 

 near their tips, and apparently of four joints, of which the first is by 

 far the thickest, the last cuneiform. This Paussus with its congeners 

 is surely misplaced, and erroneously classed with the Tetramerse, for 

 the joints in all the tarsi are visibly five, and may be readily dis- 

 tinguished with the naked eye. 



Note. — It struck me that of the three I captured last night, one crepi- 

 tated, or made an explosion similar to that produced by the Brachini, 

 and most certainly while I now write my finger and thumb bear marks, 

 as of caustic or something like it, though I assuredly have not used any 

 thing of the kind for many months past. We have had very heavy 

 rain for the last eight days ; yesterday was the first fine day we have 

 had since the rain set in, which may account for my great good for- 

 tune in capturing so many as three of these highly curious insects, all 

 of which by the bye came in late, for it was near one a. m. before I got 

 to bed. 



Note Booh — Sultanpore, Benares, June 22, 1840. — Captured ano- 

 ther Paussus similar to the three taken on the 21st instant, but it 

 unfortunately fell into the oil of the lamp, and was killed before I could 

 try its crepitating powers, which I more regret, as it is quite uncertain 

 when I may again procure a specimen. I have already noticed that 

 we have had very heavy rain for several days past, and insects both 

 last night and on that of the 21st were more numerous than I ever 

 remember to have seen before. A lamp I placed outside for the pur- 

 pose of attracting them to its light, was after a minute or so, extin- 

 guished by the immense numbers which flitted about it, and to save 

 the wanton destruction of life, I was compelled to cover the lamp with 

 a wire shade at the expense of much light. As for myself, I could 

 scarcely remain near the spot, though covered from head to foot with a 

 black blanket ; even with this precaution, my hair and clothes were so 

 covered by the myriads which swarmed around the light, and caused 

 me so much annoyance by getting under my dress, that I was forced to 



