46 ANNULOSA JAVANICA. 



Tibiae ad apicem latiores, extus denticulatse. Tarsi articulis quinque primis subpulvil- 

 latis vel apice setigeris, articulo quarto minimo. 



Obs. Megauchenia is a difficult genus, but appears to have a strong affinity to Languria and to 

 Cerylon, indeed principally differs from M. Latreille's description of this last, according to what I 

 have been able to observe, in having the clava of the antennae of three distinct joints with the 

 labrum emarginate, and, in being pentamerous, in which last respect it agrees with Languria. I 

 suspect, however, that the Xylophagi of Latreille (which at present form a most artificial assem- 

 blage) are in general pentamerous, and that it is merely owing to the minuteness of the fourth 

 joint, and to the small size of the insects themselves, that they have been placed by the entomolo- 

 gists of the French school between the Linnean genera Curculio and Cerarnbyx — groupes be- 

 tween which the transition is immediate and perfect. " Natura opifex rerum, non facit saltus." 



It is in this stirps, as has been before said, that we find the maxillae recede the farthest from 

 their typical form; it is in this stirps therefore that of the whole tribe we find the most herbi- 

 vorous insects. This is curious, certainly, but corresponds with afr observation to be made on 

 the herbivorous tribes of Coleoptera, namely, that where in an herbivorous groupe such as the 

 Petalocera, we meet with a family such as the Trogidce endued with an appetite for animal matter, 

 we find its maxillae approaching in structure to those of the Adephaga,ov at least to be furnished 

 with two processes. 



90. Setipwnis. M. atropkeus, capite thoraceque subsetigero punctato-striatis : striis altematim setigeris. 



Long. corp. ^. 

 Caput clypeo antice marginato, antennis piceis clava tomentosa. Thorax marginatus lateribus rugosulis- 

 Elytra punctorum seriebus striata setisque brevibus spiniformibus instructa. Corpus subtus Pedesque 

 picei. Tarsi sub-pulvillati. 



Genus SYLVANUS. Lat. dermestes Lin. Fab. 

 This genus is said to have some relation to Trogosita, but on the nature and value of 

 such relation, I am not at present able to offer any decided opinion. It may, however, be 

 observed, that M. Latreille has described Silvanus as having two processes to the maxilla?, and 

 Trogosita as possessing only one. Such a remark may lead us to suspect a relation between Sil- 

 vanus and the Cucujidce, which is not improbable ; but however this may be, I repeat that a great 

 portion of doubt must still hang over this arrangement of Latreille's Xylophagi, inasmuch as 

 we know not how many of them truly belong to the stirps of Necrophaga. No greater service can 

 indeed be rendered to this part of entomology than by accurately dissecting these minute insects, 

 of which so many genera and species are to be found in England ; I question, however, whether 

 it may be advisable to attempt at present a natural arrangement of them, because so few of the 

 exotic species are known, and such wide chasms appear between several of the known genera. 



91. Denticulatus. S.Juscus, thorace crenato punctulato : lineis duabus impressis, clytris punctato-striatis, an- 



tennarum clava quadriarticulatd. 



Long. corp. &. 

 Insectum S. sexdentato majus. Caput clypeo punctulato utrinque ante oculos unklentato antennis fuscis. 



Thorax 



