ANNULOSA JAVAN1CA. 19 



Mandihulae ut in Diccelo. 



Palpi maxillures articulo penultimo et ultimo sequalibus, hoc cylindrico ovali. 



Mentum dente sinus bifido. 



Thorax transverso-quadratus lateribus rotundatis marginatis, antice emarginatus, postice 



truncatus, medio canaliculars, fossula lineari utrinque postice impressus. 

 Corpus valde depressum elytris striatis. Pedes antici maris tarsorum articulis duobus 



dilatatis. 



Obs. The affinities of this genus would be very difficult to discover were it not for a Brazil 

 insect, which I believe forms M. Latreille's genus Microcephalus,* and which clearly connects it 

 with Diccelus. This Brazilian insect has the subquadrate mentum of Diccelindus, and the securi- 

 form palpi of Diccelus. It may also be worth while to compare our insect with Amara 

 and Dinodes. 



30. Felspjticus. D. nigro-iridescens lavissimus labro antennis tarsisque piceis, elytris septemstriatis : margine 

 exarato postice subcatenulato. 



Long. corp. ^ 

 Caput atronitidum, postice subiridescens, facie bifossulata, labro quadrato piceo. Antennce articulis basa- 

 libus nitidis piceis, reliquis pubescentibus rufis. Thorax politissimus iridescens. Scutelhim minutissimum. 

 Elytra sicut Felspath politissima. Abdomen subiridescens. Pedes nigri tarsis ferrugineis. 



* In protesting against the slovenly mode lately adopted by some continental naturalists, of publishing generic names 

 without defining the genera to which they are applied, I must express my regret at seeing it now resorted to by those 

 who have most powerfully appealed against it. Because they are themselves well acquainted with the insects to 

 which they assign certain names, they fancy that others must also know them, forgetting that the general adoption of 

 the name must always depend on the accurate definition of the relation which exists between it and the insect. At least 

 I hope, that it is this species of oversight which alone occasions the grievous inconveniences of which Entomology has 

 to complain ; for I can scarcely suppose that naturalists, to whom the science owes so much in other respects, would 

 condescend to confuse it, or thwart its progress for the mere sake of securing, by a doubtful priority, so trifling an 

 advantage as a generic name, and so miserable a fame as must depend upon such priority. Certain it is, however, that 

 inextricable confusion must arise from this course of proceeding, unless it be now at once firmly resisted; and unless 

 Entomologists resolve to abide by the maxims laid down on this subject by Linnaeus and Fabricius. Proceeding 

 on the principles laid down by these great authorities, who have both declared characters absolutely necessary, 

 in order that genera may be known, I am sure that the reader will consider me justified in considering no name as 

 secure, unless it be accompanied with a character. In these pages all names of mere catalogues, whether generic or 

 specific, shall be as much overlooked as if they never had existed. In some few cases, perhaps where the names like 

 Rembus, Omaseus, are assigned to described insects, and the meaning of the author is thus, in some measure, ascer- 

 tained, I may choose not to increase the confusion by refusing to adopt them, although M. Latreille has most truly said, 

 that even such names without characters, " ne sont que de simples indications et n'imposent aucune loi." 



I ought here to observe, on my own part, that it may possibly be found that M. Wiedemann has published in the 

 pages of his Zoologisches Magazin, some few of the species here described; and of course, his names in such cases 

 must be adopted as having the right of priority. Although I have long been in expectation of receiving the work 

 complete, I unfortunately, at present, only possess some loose sheets of it, which I owe to the kindness of Dr. Escholtz. 

 In every instance, however, where I could obtain M. Wiedemann's names, I have carefully adopted them, for his 

 descriptions are not only detailed, but very accurate. 



D 2 



