OCR Text |
Show 1866.] MR. F. P. PASCOE O N T H E COLEOPTERA O F PENANG. 535 side below the disk a longitudinal V-shaped scar-like depression scutellum triangular; elytra covered with small crowded punctures, divided by short transverse lines, or, in other words, transversely corrugated, each elytron indistinctly marked with two raised lines, its apex obliquely truncate ; body beneath glossy golden green ; legs blue, or violet-blue; antennae dark blue, the first five joints covered more or less with short tuberculate spines. Length 8 lines. This seems to be a variable species, so far as size and amount of spinosity on the antennae are concerned. Generally the coxae are reddish; but I have a small specimen, with much less rugose antennae, in which the colour is scarcely to be distinguished from that of the femora. The example described above is from Sarawak, where, as well as in Singapore, the species was taken by Mr. Wallace. PRIONID^E. REMPHAN. Remphan, Waterhouse, Trans. Ent. Soc. ser. 1. i. p. 67. REMPHAN HOPEI, Waterhouse, I. c. pi. 8. f. 1. Remphan appears to differ from Macrotoma solely in the greater length of the scape, which is thus rather longer than the third joint - a character directly opposed to the true Macrotomar. The remarks of M . Guerin Meneville on this genus are so apposite, and are so much more applicable at the present time, that we think we are doing some service in calling attention to them here. He says, " The genus Remphan of Mr. Waterhouse, it seems to us, ought to be placed near Macrotoma. The author has forgotten to state its affinities, after having given its generic characters, commencing with the head and finishing with the abdomen, just as is the custom with many entomologists, and which is very convenient for celerity. In fact, in thus freeing one's self from the researches which ought to be really made in order to fix the place of a new genus, the task is reduced to almost mechanical work ; for it is only to say all or almost all that can be seen of an insect to describe it, and leave to the poor reader the care and perplexity of picking out whatever seems good to him"*. Mr. Waterhouse is, however, one of the last that we can complain of in this respect; but the systematic determination of some to content themselves with the barest descriptions, without giving the slightest clue to the position of their new genera, ought to disentitle them to the right of priority in the event of any of these genera being afterwards described in a conscientious and recognizable manner. Of course, it is a different matter when it is stated of any new genus that its affinities are doubtful or unknown to its author. As M . Guerin Me'neville observes, these mechanical descriptions can be done by any one; the real test of competency will be found in the observations which every conscientious writer will feel it his duty to make in instituting, or proposing to institute, a new genus. * Iconographie du regne Animal, Insectes, p. 212. |