No. 9. — 1856-8 ] new ceylon coleoptera. 



15 



is very agile, and ever ready to take to its wings. It is of 

 quite a peculiar appearance, imparted to it by its large eyes, 

 small curiously shaped thorax and rather plump elytra and 

 abdomen. I may further mention, that 1 have observed the 

 fourth joint of the maxillary palpi to collapse when the speci- 

 mens become quite dry, so as to give them a different, spoon- 

 like appearance, apt to mislead any one who has not examined 

 fresh specimens. 



10, TRICHOPTERYX CURSITAN& N. 



T. ovata, subcoravexa, pubescens, supra obscure senea, elytris aeneo- 

 brunneis, subtus picea, pedibus oreqile testaceis, anteSnis art. 3-11 ni- 

 grescentibns. Long, corp 2/5 lin. 



Antennarum clava art 2 primis ovatis, ultimo comco, actimTnato* 

 Thorax amplisshnus,. elytris tertia parte minor, conyexns, angnlis aeutis^ 

 basi humeros amplectens, apice angnstatus. Elytra sftbdepressa, stib-> 

 quadrata, apicem versns parum angustata, trnncata, abdomine multo* 

 breviora Tibia? medie incrassata?. Coxas posticae maiime dilatata?. 

 Mesosternum carinatum. 



Sub veget. putrescent, exsiccescentibns in prov. occid. copiosa. 



A rather large species, commonly met with in this part of 

 the Island, under rotting vegetable substances somewhat dried 

 up. It is very agile and ready to take to its wings, which 

 are of the beautiful typical construction, about twice the length 

 of the body, and in dead specimens frequently produced 

 behind. These insects vary a little as to shape, some being 

 more narrowed behind than others, and also as to the exact 

 number of the abdominal segments left uncovered by the ely- 

 tra, generally three or four. The head is large, but exhibits 

 nothing abnormal or extraordinary the thorax is very large, 

 emarginated in front and behind, with the angles acute, the 

 basal ones enveloping the shoulders ; the wing-covers are 

 subquadratic, with the angles rounded off and a little narrowed 

 behind ; the legs have the tibiae incrassated in the middle, 

 and the posterior coxas very much dilated and distant from 

 each other ; in all other respects they are typical. The shape 

 of the body is that of an egg, broadest at the shoulders, 

 gently narrowed towards the apex of the abdomen, and round- 

 ed off towards the head. 



