Page:Madras journal of literature and science vol 2 new series 1857.djvu/66

56 In H. bimaculata finally, this joint is rather clubshaped or subtriangular and stronger truncated than in the former two species. 4, the ligula: this organ is of subcoriaceous texture, middling size, the shape of an oblong square, free and transversely truncated at the apex—these characters are common to all three spec. and in H. ruficollis I have nothing to add to it, however, the anterior margin, which is straight in this species, is slightly bisinuated in H. elegans the outer angles being acute and the central one obtuse. The ligula of H. bimaculata differs from both the former in as far as it is narrowed towards the apex and depressed towards the sides and the front, the anterior margin is otherwise cut away straight, without any sinuosities, but it is rather strongly armed with bristles. The paraglossæ agree in all three spec. in as far as they are highly developed, reach much beyond the anterior margin of the ligula and are more or less bent inwards. They assume their greatest development in H. elegans in which they nearly touch each other in front of the anterior margin, being cylindric and slender at the same time. In H. ruficollis the paraglossæ are somewhat shorter and straighter and in H. bimaculata still more so.

On all other points the three spec. perfectly agree; in saying which I lay particular weight upon the unusual sculpture of the elytra and the rather peculiar hairy vesture of the insects, bearing also in mind their general appearance, proportions, system of coloration, mode of living, etc. As to the hairy vesture of certain parts of the body and the sculpture of the elytra, it is true that these are not generally looked upon as of much importance, however, they appear to me to be so in this instance, as they present certain unusual variations repeated in all three species. The hairy vesture consists in thin yellowish or reddish hairs thinly sprinkled over the back and still more thinly over the whole of the lower surface of the insects, being at the same time longer at the latter place. This vesture acquires its greatest density on the legs, especially the tibiæ and tarsi, whilst their uniform presence at the palpi forms almost a generic character. The elytra are exquisitely sculptured into about 8 larger costæ on either of them and into 2 smaller ones between every 2 of these, the furrows thus formed are finely and transversely rugose and (with