PAUSSUS. 



489 



and smooth, about as wide as the head, obscurely channelled, 

 but not emarginate in the middle, with the lateral angles produced 

 rather sharply on each side ; posterior part channelled in the 

 centre and raised on each side of the channel ; elytra rather 

 variable in colour, dull, very finely sculptured, subalutaceous, with 

 the follicles at the external apex very distinct, and close to these 

 a long curved moveable spine (not a tuft as in P. stevensianus), 

 which is characteristic of the species ; underside castaneous ; legs 

 moderate, not dilated. 

 Length 7 millim. 



Bengal : JNowatoli, Barway (Cardon). 



First taken by Captain Boys by sweeping in high grass under a 

 Munja clump (Saccharinurn munja). It has occurred in very large 

 numbers (135 examples) in Chota Nagpur, where it was found by 

 Cardon in company with Pheidole latinoda. Wasmann (I. c. p. 54) 

 says that the colour of these examples is brighter than as described 

 and figured by Westwood, and it is apparently very variable, the 

 dark colour of the elytra being sometimes much reduced, and 

 occasionally quite wanting. 



The species is allied to P. stevensianus and P. fulvas. From the 

 former it may be known by the circular excavation on the vertex 

 and the fact that it possesses a long thorn-like seta and not 

 a fascicle or brush at the external apex of the elytra ; the latter 

 species has neither thorn-like seta nor fascicle, and is smaller, 

 duller and more uniformly coloured, with the legs broader. It is 

 also akin to P. wroughtoni and P. soleatus, with which Wasmann 

 compares it; from both of these it may be known by its brighter 

 and more luteous or straw colour, and by the presence of the 

 apical thorn. I have not seen a specimen of P. wroughtoni, but 

 to judge by Wasmann's photograph it is extremely closely allied 

 to P. boy si. 



259. Paussus stevensianus, Westw, 



Paussus stevensianus, Westwood, Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. xix, 1841 

 p. 48; id., Arcan. Ent. ii, p. 176, pi. 90, fig. 2. 



Of a pale luteous colour ; head large, produced before the eyes, 

 w r ith the clypeus distinctly emarginate, and with two large tubercles 

 hetween the eyes ; antennas with a large broad punctured club, 

 having its anterior (or internal) margin curved, and the posterior 

 (or external) not broadly excavate, the margins and the excavation 

 being sinuate and raised in tubercles, but not dentate, basal 

 external angle bluntly produced ; pronotum divided, anterior part 

 short, raised, with the lateral angles rather sharply produced, the 

 centre of the ridge emarginate, posterior part scarcely narrowed 

 to the base, about as broad as the anterior ; elytra broad, somewhat 

 shining, a little darker behind, very finely sculptured, with a 

 distinct fascicle of rigid reddish setae at each apical angle ; legs 



