& PECTINICOENIA. 



MSALUS. 

 Msalus, Fabricius, Syst. Elerjth. ii. p. 274; Lacordaire, Genera des Coleopt. iii. p. 42. 



Three species of JEsalus have been recorded, one European, one Japanese, and one 

 from Mexico. 



1. -SIsalus trogoides. 



Msalus trogoides, Albers, Deutsche ent. Zeit. 1883, p. 228 \ 



Hob. Mexico, Oaxaca *. 



As no mention is made of an ocular canthus, this species appears to be a typical 

 Msalus. It is much larger (6 millim.) than JE. neotropicalis, and also differs in colour 

 and in the form of the prosternum. 



2. Msalus neotropicalis. (Tab. I. %g. 3, 3 a.) 



Oblongo-ovatus, sordide fuscus, antennis pedibusque rufioribus ; supra breviter sat dense erecte setosns, opacus, 

 grosse discrete punctatus ; clypeo vix arcuato, oculis cantho angusto setifero dimidio divisis ; tborace fere 

 sicut in 2E. scarabceoide ; elytris interstitiis panllo convexis, setis plerumque in striis sitis ; tibiis antieis et 

 intermediis extus denticulatis dentibusque acutis elongatis tribus, 1° apicali recte exstanti, alteris duobus 

 medianis ; prosterno piano, nee elevato. 



Long. 4 millim. 



Hah. Guatemala, near the city, Zapote, Capetillo (Champion). 



Differs from the type of the genus, and all other members of the subfamily to which 

 it belongs, in the eyes being divided (for half their width) by a canthus. The canthus 

 is linear, convex, and studded with short blunt erect setse like the rest of the surface. 

 The antennas are very similar ; but the joints 6 and 7 are excessively short and acutely 

 produced on their inner side. The mesosternum, as in the type, forms a subvertical plate 

 on the front face of an intercoxal process of the metasternum, and is broadly excavated 

 to receive the point of the prosternum ; the latter is not elevated as in M. scarab ceoides, 

 but planed to the level of the anterior coxse. 



Many examples, obtained by beating the withered leaves and boughs of fallen 

 forest trees. 



Fam. PASSALID^I. 



The latest monographer of this family, Dr. Kaup, in 1871 (Monogr. der Passaliden, 

 Berlin Ent. Zeitschr. xv.), formulated an elaborate classification, which, as it was founded 

 on abundant material, and of course applied to the Passalidw of the whole world, I 

 would willingly have adopted, as the most convenient course in dealing with a limited 

 fauna ; but a careful examination has shown the classification to be so arbitrary and 

 inapplicable that I have been compelled to reject it. How far the inconsistencies may 

 be due to the quinary method which Kaup adopted it is unnecessary to inquire, but 

 the necessity of making up the number five in the species of each genus, the genera of 



