BOLITOPHAGID/E UELOPID/E. 237 



with three obtuse ridges ; the interior one very short ; the intermediate one discoidal, abbreviated at 

 each end; and the exterior one reaching from the base to the apical tubercles, of which there are two 

 much elevated, the interior one being the largest and highest ; in the interstices there are four rows 

 of deep impressions : the sides of the antepectus are verrucose : the abdomen is black-brown with 

 lutose sides; the disk is longitudinally, densely, and thickly wrinkled, and the sides are verrucose : 

 legs black-brown. 



This species differs from the preceding one in the form of the thorax and the clava of the antenna?, 

 and ought perhaps to form a subgenus. 



iii. Stenelvtra. 



Family HELOPIDiE. Helopidans. 



CXXVIII. Genus MERACANTHA. Kirb. 



Labrum transverse, scarcely emarginate. 



Labium subtriangular, longitudinally and obtusely ridged in the middle with a deep impression on 



each side. 

 Mandibles bidentate ? at the apex. 

 Maxilloe mutilated. 

 Maxillary palpi first joint minute; second longer than the rest, clavate ; third obconical ; fourth 



very large, securiform. 

 Labial palpi broken off. 

 Mentum trapazoidal. 

 AntenncB filiform, scape incrassated; pedicel obconical; third joint longer than the rest, subcylindrical, 



a little incrassated at the apex ; fourth shorter than the fifth, subobconical ; fifth longer than 



the subsequent ones, elongate, obconical; 6 — 10 obconical, gradually decreasing in length, 



and the 9th and 10th in thickness; 11th ovate acute. 

 Body ovate, convex, apterous. Head triangular ; front elevated on each side at the eyes pro- 

 tecting the base of the antennae ; eyes large, lateral, internally emarginate. Prothorax rather wider 

 than long, narrowest anteriorly, subquadrangular ; margined on the sides and anteriorly, margin very 

 slender. Scutellum an obtusangled triangle. Elytra with the epipleura narrow, falciform ; shoulders 

 incrassated armed with a tooth ; calcaria very short and scarcely visible. 



This genus appears related to Acanthopus Megerle, 3 but differs in its general form and several of 

 its characters. 



3 Cruslac. Arachn. et Ins. ii, 16. 



