This insect seems to be one of those links which connect such genera as Anoplognathus, Amblyterus and Brachysternus, and it is very difficult to say to which of these genera it is most allied.  Professor Burmeister has begun to eradicate the Phyllophagous genera of Beetles, and from his deep knowledge of Entomology, and the particular acquaintance which he has with the principles of general Zoology, as well as the thorough manner in which he means to go through all the species, much light may soon be expected to be thrown on the subject; how true is Darwin’s remark, made in speaking of a somewhat anomalous bird, “this, from its varied relations, although at present offering only difficulties to the systematic Naturalist, ultimately may assist in revealing the grand scheme, common to the present and past ages, on which organized beings have been created.” (Journal and Remarks Voyage of Beagle 3 page 112.)

BIPHYLLOCERA, g.n.

Antennae (seemingly) nine-jointed, the first joint long, much thickened at the end, and furnished with several stiff hairs, the five last are lamelliform, the lamellae in the male long, and pinnated on one side; labium deeply grooved in the middle, notched at the tip; palpi with the terminal joints longest, sub-cylindrical; head moderate; clypeus separated by a distinct line, basal part slightly hollowed out, as is the head between the eyes; thorax short; elytra elongate, somewhat rounded on the lateral edge, truncated at the end; legs slender; tibiae of first pair anteriorly sub-tridentate, tibiae of second and third pairs with many spines, claws of posterior tarsi entire, joints of tarsi, slender, elongate.

In the system this would come at no great distance from the genus Serica, the compound lamellated joints are, I believe, the first noticed amongst Phyllophagous Coleoptera.

Biphyllocera kirbyana, sp. n.  Illustration 19 Insects 2 Figure 1 a and b.)

Piceo-brunnea, subtus piloso-fulvescens, thoracis margine flavescente, dorso, hirtello; elytris 9 (saltem) lineis longitudinalibus impressis, interstitiis transverse substriolatis quasi squamulatis.

Shining, more especially on the head and clypeus, the crown of the head very smooth, the space between the eyes with impressed punctures, the clypeus slightly notched in front; antennae pale-ferruginous; thorax with short rust-coloured hairs, and the lateral margin slightly reflexed and paler than the dorsal part, which is covered with short striolae, giving a squamulate appearance to it; when narrowly examined, just above the rather large and bluntish scutellum, there are some distinct scattered punctures; thorax beneath covered with fulvous hairs.

Habitat King George’s Sound, Captain George Grey.

There are two more or less injured specimens of this species in the collection of the British Museum.  In the same collection, from the same locality, are two specimens of what I regarded as the females of the B. kirbyana; they are larger and of a pale brown; one of these is figured in the accompanying wood-cut figure 2.  In the lamellae of the antennae of the two specimens there is considerable difference, so that probably there may be a second species of Biphyllocera.  I have given it the name of B. fabriciana.