94 



INTRODUCTION. 



It is with considerable hesitation that we adopt this family, but 

 it will be noticed that the characters differ in several points from 

 those of the Histerid^e, of which family the single genus Niponius 

 can only be regarded at the most as a very abnormal member. 



Mr. Gr. Lewis, who first discovered the genus in Japan, was 

 inclined to regard it at first as probably belonging to th( 

 Syntelild.e, to which family it bears a sort of superficial 

 resemblance ; when, however, he described it (Trans. Ent. Soc. 

 Lond. 1885, p. 333), he referred to this, but went on to say that 

 on a more perfect scrutiny of the insects he was convinced that 

 they were true Histerid,e, although their position in the family 

 was hard to determine, there being much that is abnormal in their 

 structure. He would place the genus near Platysoma, from the 

 habits of the species and their mode of seeking food, but in the 

 absence of an anterior prosternal lobe or throat-plate they are 

 more closely allied to Hololepta and Trypjdnceus, and should come 

 as a third tribe after the latter, if they are again relegated to the 

 HisteriDjE. The formation of the head (which resembles more 

 or less that of Nemosoma and Osorius), the large deflexed mandibles, 

 the structure of the prosternum and coxae, and the very long and 

 slender tarsi, seem, however, to afford good ground for their 

 separation ; the curious foveolation of the pygidium and (in some 

 cases) the propygidium must also be mentioned. 



With regard to the habits of the genus Mr. Lewis says (/. c. 

 p. 332) : — " Niponius is entomophagous and essentially diurnal : 

 but instead of following the Platypi, which bore diametrically into 

 the timber, it seeks out Scolyti and Tomlci which reside either in 

 the bark or not far from the cambium. In fine weather, in June, 

 at Kashiwagi, 1 have taken Niponius, in company with Cyphagogus, 

 crawling over the bark of oaks in search of fresh burrows." 



The family was first discovered in Japan, but species have since 

 been found in India, and Mr. Lewis records an example of a new 

 species from Borneo in the British Museum, from the Pascoe 

 Collection. The average length appears to be from 4-5 mm., but 

 one of the Indian species (31. parvulus, Lewis) is only 2 mm. 

 long. 



[Family 27. PLATYPSYLLIDiE.] 



Size small; structure, in many respects, quite abnormal; head 

 large with a comb-like row of spines on its posterior margin ; eyes 

 wanting ; mandibles rudimentary ; maxilla} bilobed ; menturn large 

 and conspicuous, deeply divided behind into three lobes; antenna: 

 received in grooves on the underside of the thorax, with the first joint 

 long, the second enlarged, short, excavate and pubescent, and receiving 

 in its socket a short oval knob consisting of seven or eight closely 

 united joints ; elytra much abbreviated, leaving six ventral segments 

 of the abdomen visible from above ; legs short and, rather stout ; 

 tarsi o-jointed ; wings absent. 



The single species forming this family is one of the most 



