PBOCULUSl 3 



each subfamily, and so forth, is certainly accountable for some of the errors. The 

 Passalidse of the New World, instead of forming three out of the five subfamilies into 

 which Kaup divided the family, seem to me to belong essentially all to one type of 

 form, with very great diversity of minor characters, but no important differences of 

 structure. The minor differences afford tolerably trustworthy characters for the formation 

 of small generic groups of which Kaup established a large number, and in adopting 

 most of these I have been obliged to institute numerous others on the same class of 

 modifications, chiefly the ridges and armature of the head. I have grouped the genera 

 into two sections, characterized by the form of the base of the elytra and the relative 

 length of these organs, or the hinder body, with regard to the thorax. For con- 

 venience of reference and comparison I have adhered pretty closely to Kaup's sequence 

 of the genera, although it violates to some extent their natural affinities. 



Section I. Elytra relatively short, more or less protuberant in the middle of the base. 



A. Antennal leaflets very long. 



PROCULUS. 



Proculus, Kaup, Harold's Col. Hefte, iv. p. 8 (1868); id. Monogr. der Passaliden, p. 65 (]871). 



Three species of this fine genus, the giants of the family, are at present known. They 

 appear to be restricted to Guatemala and the adjoining region of British Honduras. 



In Guatemala P. goryi is confined to the Pacific slope, and found at elevations of 

 from 1000 to 5000 feet ; P. ojpacipennis and P. mniszechi to the Atlantic slope, and to 

 the humid forest region of Alta Vera Paz, at elevations of from 3000 to 5000 feet ; 

 examples of the last-named species were only met with sparingly in various localities in 

 this district by Mr. Champion, who, at the time not possessing means of preserving 

 such large insects in a very humid climate, was unable to retain examples. 



Decaying specimens of these and other Passalidee occasionally harbour rare 

 Staphylinidse. 



1. Proculus goryi. 



Passalus goryi, Melly, Gruer. Mag. Zool. 1833, t. 56 \ 

 Proculus goryi, Kaup, Monogr. der Passal. p. 66, t. 5. f. 1 2 . 



Hob. Guatemala l 2 , Pantaleon, Las Mercedes, Las Nubes above Mazatenango 

 (Champion), Costa Cuca (Sarg.). 



This species was obtained plentifully t by Mr. Champion in the coffee estate of Las 

 Nubes and elsewhere along the Pacific slope, by employing the Indians to turn over 

 the fallen trunks of the largest forest trees, in the decaying wood on the under side 

 of which the insect passes its earlier stages. 



BB2 



