176 Descriptions of new Ceylon Coleoptera, [no. 2, new series, 



tures, the central one of which is furnished with two — the lateral 

 ones with one strong bristle each. The anterior tibiae are but 

 slightly notched. The prosternura is largely developed, reaching 

 beyond the anterior coxae, obtusely acuminated and received in a 

 deep excavation of the mesothorax. But I doubt that the deve- 

 lopment is sufficiently large to entitle the insect to a place in the 

 g. Lonchoster?ius Laf. which however I have not seen in nature. 



16. Trichopieryx cursitans. N. 



T, ovata, subconvexa, pubescens, supra obscure aenea, elytris 

 aeneo — brunneis, subtus picea, pedibus oreque testaceis, antennis 

 art. 3-11 nigrescentibus. Long. corp. f lin. 



Antennarum clava art. 2 primis ovatis, ultimo conico, acuminato. 

 Thorax amplissimus, elytris tertia parte minor, convexus, angulis 

 acutis, basi humeros amplectens, apice angustatus. Elytra sub- 

 depressa, subquadrata, apicem versus parum angustata, truncata, 

 abdominis 3-4 segmenta ultima non obtegentia. Tibiae medio in- 

 crassatae. Coxae posticae maxime dilatatae. Mesosternum carina- 

 tum. 



Sub veget. putrescent, exsiccescentibus in prov. occid. copiosa. 



A rather large species commonly met with in this part of the 

 Island under rotting vegetable substances somewhat dried up. It 

 is very agile and ready to take to its wings which are of the beau- 

 tiful typical construction, about twice the length of the body and 

 in dead specimens frequently produced behind. These insects vary 

 a little as to shape, some being more narrowed behind than others, 

 and also as to the exact number of the abdominal segments left 

 uncovered by the elytra. The head is large but exhibits nothing 

 abnormal or extraordinary ; the thorax is very large, emarginated 

 in front and behind, with the angles acute, the basal ones enve- 

 loping the shoulders ; the wing-covers are subquadrated with 

 the angles rounded off and a little narrowed behind ; the legs have 

 the tibiae incrassated in the middle and the posterior coxae very 

 much dilated and distant from each other, in all other respects they 

 are typical. The shape of the body is that of an egg, broadest at 

 the shoulders, gently narrowed towards the apex of the abdomen, 

 and rounded off towards the head. 



