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affinity. All Lamellicornes are pentamerous : and in some 
genera, e. g. Repsimus and Chrysophora, the extraordinary 
development of the posterior legs has its counterpart. 
The Passalidse also possess some points of affinity. In 
some species, as P. Mnizechii the prothorax is oval and 
largely developed, but the antennee thickly lamellated and 
curled round at the apex, the coarsely lineated and lengthened 
elytra are very dissimilar. 
In the Curculionidae, which, however, are tetramerous or 
pseudo-tetrarnerous as regards their tarsi, the development 
of the rostrum, and peculiar antennae differ in toto from the 
insect we are discussing ; yet some of the Brenthidae have 
some common points with it, more in configuration than 
anything else ; but then it is known that through the Bren- 
thidae and Anthribidae, the Curculionidae come next to the 
Longicornes. 
Of the Cucucjidae the antennae are similar in Passandra and 
Hectarthrium, a specimen of the latter is exhibited. 
Another genus of Beetles, of which I show specimens, and 
which has been brought up by many authors for comparison 
with Hypocephalus, as regards anomalies in structure, is the 
Trictenotoma (T. Childrenii and Temple tonii) from India 
and Ceylon — Gemminger and Harold have in fact removed it 
from the position assigned it by Lacordaire to a family of its 
own (Trictenotomidse) between the Anthribidse and the 
Longicornes (Cerambycidge) to a station just before the com- 
mencement of the Heteromera. The tarsi are Heteromerous. 
There is no doubt that Hypocephalus is fossorial; the 
extraordinary power given to its head, coupled with the 
vertical mandibles and the two side processes or lobes of 
the head, show that it uses it as a battering-ram to tear its 
way through earth or rotten wood, while the very powerful 
thighs and legs serve to propel it on its resistless course. Of 
course, such an insect would not require wings, nor would its 
