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Show 96 REV. H. S. GORHAM ON N E W [Mar. 5, 2. Descriptions of new Species and of a new Genus of Coleoptera of the Family Telephoridce. By the Rev. H. S. G O R H A M , F.Z.S. [Received March 5, 1889.] (Plate X.) The object of this paper is to contribute something to our knowledge of the Malacodermata pertaining to the genus Telephorus and its near allies from Eastern Asia, with the exception of the Japanese species, which are already pretty well known and a revision of which will appear in a separate paper. The material in m y hands for the purpose consists of:-(I.) M y own collection from various sources, which I have been forming for many years. (II.) The collection of the Imperial Museum at Calcutta, of which the whole of the Malacodermata have been placed in m y hands for determination ; these are for the most part old specimens, chiefly from the North-east Frontier. (III.) A collection made by M r . A. E. Pratt near Kiukiang for M r . Leech, and many specimens collected by Mr. Leech himself in China and Korea. And (IV.) I have to thank M . R. Oberthiir for examples of a few most interesting species from Thibet and from Mt. Kodeicanel in Southern India. With regard to the question of the genera to which Eastern Telephoridse should be referred, I have dissected many of the species and the result I arrive at is that the majority belong to that section of Telephorus which has in Europe received the name of Ancis-tronycha ; but the study of the male genitalia is hardly yet advanced enough for m e to form an opinion as to whether all the species which are Ancistronychee by the structure of the claws should be retained in that genus, or whether it would simplify their classification to form new genera based upon the other structures of the male. It must be borne in mind that Malacodermata have been so little collected, and are frequently only available in such bad condition, through age, and are so apt to shrivel that the study of the ventral appendages is attended with much difficulty. Still I have been able to do something in this way, and hope to present some remarks with drawings. Telephorus proper is a genus confined to the Palsearctic and Nearctic Regions of the globe, reaching its highest development in the Eastern parts of the former district, and among the species described in this paper are some of the largest and most brilliant of the whole Family. One new genus is now proposed for some very abnormal species from India, which have also representatives in China. 1. TELEPHORUS CHALYBEIPENNIS, sp. nov. (Plate X. fig. 2.) Castaneo-fulvus, nitidus ; antennis articulis quatuor ultimis tarsisque nigro-fuscis; elytris chalybeeis vel nigris, pernitidis, subtiliter coriaceis. Long. 18 millim. $ $ . |
