258 
Mr. H. W. Bates on Geramhycidce 
Genus Melathemma, gen. nov. 
Xestice affinis, sed antennis gracilibus_, filiformibus, 
elongatis. Oculi magni^ lobis inferioribus tubera anten- 
nifera superantibus^ his yalde obtusis sulcatis ; cello 
baud constricto. Antenna graciles_, filiformes^ corpore 
( c? ) niulto longiores_, gTabr^^ sparsim setos^e ; articulo 
basali brevi^ oblongo_, tertio elongate^, 4to et 6to prece- 
dent! brevioribus suba3qualibns^ caeteris 83quilongis^ lime 
duple longiori excepto. Thorax inermis^ subquadratus. 
Elytra subcylindrica^ apice inermia. Prosternum arcua- 
tum, acetabula extus angustissime emarginata; meso- 
sternum planum^ acetabula intermedia anguste aperta. 
Abdomen glabrum^ apicem versus attenuatum. Pedes 
breves, inermes, femora compressa subclavata, tarsi 
articulo prime 2ndo Sioque conjunctim breviori. Corpus 
subcylindricum, politum, sparse hirsutum. 
This genus is formed for the reception of a species 
which is closely allied to Xestia in its principal characters, 
but differs greatly from it in facies, and in the long 
slender filiform and non-tomentose antennse, which, in 
the male (the only sex I know) , are longer by one-half 
than the body, and have a short oblong (not conical) 
basal joint. The head is not constricted behind the eyes, 
the antenniferous tubercles are very obtuse, the upper 
edges being rounded ; and they are separated from each 
other at their bases by a narrow portion of the forehead. 
The thorax is scarcely broader than the head, and of 
subquadrate outline, glabrous, with fine transverse striae. 
The elytra are quite unarmed at the apex. 
1 . Melathemma iDolita, 
Subcylindrica, nigra, polita, sparsim griseo-hirsuta ; 
elytris vittulis duabus ochreis vel omnino nigris punctatis ; 
scutello tomento griseo fimbriate ; thorace transversim 
subconfluenter rugose, disco tri-tuberculato, tuberculo 
mediano elongate, lateralibus rotundis. 
Long. 94 lin. S • 
Of the two male examples which I obtained of this 
species, one is wholly of a glossy deep black colour, and 
the other has on each elytron two short ochreous vittae, 
one very short and linear near the middle of the disc. 
