Page:Madras journal of literature and science vol 1 new series 1856-57.djvu/82

70 Descriptions of new Ceylon Coleoptera. [no. 1, new series, It differs, however from the former materially in the following three points, viz., the wings, tho sculpture of the wing-covers and the last antennal joint. The fact that this species has wings would render an alteration in Erichson's diagnosis of the genus necessary, it being characterized therein as apterous. The elytra are not so much contracted and rounded at the base, and, being longer than the thorax, have therefore a]more oblong, subquadrated appearance. As in the above typical species they are however, rounded at the sides and broadest a little below the middle. They are about twice as broad at the base as the adjoining part of the thorax and in their largest part, rather more than a third broader than the greatest breadth of the thorax. The third point in which the two species differ is the last joint of the antennae, which in this case is strongly truncated at the tip and slightly excavated. They are further distinguished by the distribution of the colors; my species being of a dark yellowish red, thorax lighter, head, elytra and three last abdominal segments black, elytra with 2 reddish spots at the apex, legs yellowish, at the apex of the femora and base of the tibiae blackish, the mouth is brown, the maxill. palpi yellowish with the three first joints dark at the base, the antennae have the 6 basal joints dark excepting at the apex where they as well as the 5 remaining ones are yellowish. In all other points I find the insect entirely agrees with the typical (E. paederinus : the palpi, legs and anal segment of the abdomen are of the same structure, the hairy vestiture is exactly the same in the different parts of the body of my species as it is in the corresponding ones of Erichson's.

It is perhaps wrong in me to describe an isolated species of this extensive and difficult family. However, the gen. OEdichirus is one so extraordinary that I am sure it will be noticed wherever the description of a new species of it may be found, be it by itself or amongst those of other Staphylinidae, The case would be different if the object of the description were a Homalota or the like.