No. 9. — 1856-8.] new ceylon ooleoptera. 78 



augustata ante apicem in interstitio 3° postula parva flavis, apice fortius 

 quam in prsecedente rotundatis. 



Prope Colombo raihi, Maderaspatani a Dam. Hon. W. Elliott specimina 

 nonnulla nocte ad lumen capta. 



IX. Spathinus, n. g. N. 

 Fam. Carabidje. 

 Trib. Pogonid^j. 



Corpus obovatum, sub convexum, glabrum. Caput mediocre antice 

 trigonum, oculis magnis semiglobosis prominulis, collo brevi. Mentura 

 transversum profunde quadrate emarginatum, dente sat forti acuto, lobis 

 intus inter med. et apicem leviter oblique truncatis, extus rotundatis, 

 apice acuminatis. Ligula minuta elongata, paraglossis latis connatiseam 

 hand multo superantibus apice intus oblique truncatis subacuminatis. 

 Palpi art. ultimo conico acuminate, max. art. 3° inverto ultimo sequali, 

 lab. eodum robustiore. Labrum quadratum antice profunde emargina- 

 tum angulis ant. rotundatis. Mandibulae porrectse trigonse apice acumi- 

 nata basi dentatse. Antennae sat robustse humeros parum superantes art. 

 2-3 subsequalibus, obovatis. Thorax transverse subquadratus antice 

 lateribus leviter rotundatus, angulis subrectis. Elytra ovata apice rotun- 

 data. Pedes anteriores tibiis profunde emarginatis, tarsis moris art. 1-3 

 leviter dilatatis subtus squemulis munitis, art. 1° subcylindrico 2-3 

 subrotondatis, 4° subtrigono, unguiculis simplicibus. 

 Victus Bembidiorum, 



Apparently closely allied to Trechus and an aberrant form 

 of the same tribe to which the latter genus belongs. The mentum 

 and palpi appear to agree entirely. The insects differ, how- 

 ever^ in the structure of the ligula (which in Spathinus is 

 entirely that of a Bembidium), and the sculpture and vesture 

 of the ant. male*- tarsi. In spite of the latter anomalies, the 

 preeminently characteristic shape of the palpi convinces me 

 that the insect must find a place 'where I have put it. It is also 

 closely allied to my genus Ochthephilus, lifTering from it, however, 

 in the ligula, palpi and labrum. The generic name " Spathinus" 

 signifies ' a staggard/ and I have chosen it with regard to the 

 shape of the terminal joint of the palpi. The insects are 

 common throughout the South- West and West of the Island, 

 where they live in the manner of the Bembidia, under 

 decaying vegetable matter, upon the banks of lakes, and 

 rivers, &c. 



