8220 



Entomological Society. 



the genus one was known to feed on the eggs of Pontia brassier, and consequently 

 was of terrestrial habits. With reference to what he termed the geological aspect of 

 the question, Mr. Lubbock remarked that, if this insect had been found in a fossil 

 state, no geologist would ever have imagined that it was an inhabitant of the water, — 

 a circumstance which showed the necessity of some degree of caution in deducing 

 from the structure of animals conclusions as to their habits. 



Paper read. 



Professor Dr. Scbanm, of Berlin, communicated the following description of and 

 remarks on Scaritarchus Midas, a new genus and species of the Coleopterous group 

 Scaritidae : — 



Scaritarchus. 



" Labrum antice subemarginatum. Mandibulae intus unidentatas, supra rugoso- 

 striatae. Maxillae apice rolundatae. Mentnm dente medio simplici, profunde 

 caoaliculato, lobis lateralibus rotundatis breviori. Palpi maxillares articulo 

 ultimo triangulari, lato, fere subsecuriformi, praecedentis longiludine ; labiales 

 articulo ultimo fortiter securiformi. Prothorax breviter cordatus, angulis pos- 

 ticus distinctis, basi subemarginalus. Coleoptera ovalia, striato-punctata. Tibiae 

 auticae supra canaliculatae, extus tridentatae, dentibus iuferioribus approxi- 

 matis obtusis, tibiae iutermediae fortiter uuideutatae. Trochauteres postici bre- 

 ves, validi, apice rotuudato. 



Scaritarchus Midas. Niger, prothoracis margine laterali basalique et elytrorura 

 margine laterali late aureo, his crebre striato-punctatis, interstitiis subcon- 

 vexis, cannula humerali in interstitium coutinuata. Long. 1^ poll, et ultra. 



The splendid insect here described constitutes a new genus of Scaritidae, and 

 belongs to the first section of that group (Lacord. Gen. i. 192), which embraces Pasi- 

 rcaehus, Emydoplerus, Carenum and Scaraphites. It stands nearest Carenum, resem- 

 bling it in the securiform last joint of the labial palpi, differing from it, however, in 

 the broad, triangular and almost securiform last joint of the maxillary palpi, in the 

 simply and feebly emarginated labrum, in the cordate prothorax with distinct angles, 

 and iu its strongly unidentate intermediate tibiae. A few specimens, collected in Laos 

 by the late M. Henri Mouhot, have recently been received by Mr. Stevens. A figure 

 of it will be shortly given." 



Special General Meeting. 

 The Secretary announced that a requisition, signed by six members of the Society, 

 had been presented to the President and Council, requesting that a Special General 

 Meeting be called, for the consideration of certain specified alterations in the Bye- 

 Laws : a copy of the Bye-Laws with the proposed alterations was laid on the table, 

 and was taken as read to the Meeting; and notice was given that a Special General 

 Meeting of the Society would be held for the above purpose on Monday, the 1st day 

 of December next, at 7 p. m.— J. W. D. 



Errata.— Page 8103, line 11 from bottom, for"stubble" read "stable:" 8164, line 

 15 from top, for " earnestly " read " exactly ;" line 18, dele " patient and :" 8164, third 

 line from top, for " it was the dark deed" read "it was the dark doing.'' 



