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



51 



This description does not quite agree with Lacordaire's 

 diagnosis of the genus Zophium The labrum, the tooth of the 

 mentum are not what they ought to be according to this 

 author. However, Schmidt-Gcebel in his " Col. Birm." has 

 already departed from Lacordaire's formula by describing six 

 species of Zophia with an entire men turn -tooth, which, 

 according to the former author, would make them Polystichi 

 rather. The fact is, that this part of the labrum appears to 

 be variable. In all other respects the insect agrees with 

 Lacordaire's description of the genus. 



The labrum is entire ; the first antennal joint is hardly as 

 long as the head, slightly curved and increasing in thickness 

 towards the tip, the second joint is very small and rounded, 

 the rest are subequal, filiform ; the tooth of the mentum is very 

 large, almost equalling the lobes, entire and deeply grooved 

 at the apex ; the maxill. palpi are porrected, the second joint 

 is as long as the two following together, the fourth, in both 

 the maxill. and labial ones, is triangular or slightly securi- 

 form, being obliquely truncated at the tip; the thorax is 

 elongated cordiform, truncated at the base, the back is 

 elevated, divided down the middle by an impression, the com- 

 mencement of the elevation forms two knobs at the base; the 

 first tarsal joint is as long as the three following together. 



Amongst the 300 species of Bembidiid^: which have been 

 described from almost all parts of the world, with the excep- 

 tion of Australia, it would appear there are also none from 

 Southern Asia. However, since the publication of Lacor- 

 daire's " G. d. Col." (1854), in which this statement occurs, va- 

 rious species must have found their way into the Prussian 

 cabinets with my collections from Bengal and this Island. 



In the former country the Garabidce are very abundantly 

 represented, and I recollect with pleasure the great variety 

 of them, from the gigantic Anthia down to the smallest Bem- 

 hidium, the banks and the sands of the Ganges used to furnish 

 me when leisurely travelling upon this river some years ago ? 



