PHILYDRUS. 69 
Tibie red, with the tarsi more dilute. Prosternum feebly cristate; mesosternal lamina 
very large, its free angle almost rectangular. 
The above description applies specially to individuals found at Guatemala city; but 
the numerous specimens before me from various localities show considerable variation 
in colour, form, size, and in the punctuation of the upper surface, in the development 
of the prosternal crest, and even a little in the extension forwards of the mesosternal 
lamina. The smallest individual is scarcely 12 lin. in length. ‘The colour is sometimes 
pale ochreous, with the thorax entirely flavescent, and the vertex definitely black ; 
sometimes it is nearly unicolorous and ferruginous, and the punctuation is less obsolete, 
though always extremely fine; the carina on the prosternum is sometimes quite feeble, 
while in other cases it is very largely developed. The mesosternal lamina is always 
very large, and in some cases is so elongate that it runs forward as far as the anterior 
coxee when the insect is in its moderately contracted condition. If there be more than 
one species amongst these numerous variations, the species must be numerous; and I 
quite fail to limit them by any test capable of satisfactory definition. 
5. Philydrus debilis. 
Ovalis, parum latus et convexus, nitidissimus, sublevigatus, nigricans; supra fusco-testaceus, clypeo utrinque 
testaceo-maculato; antennarum basi, palpis pedibusque testaceis. 
Long. 12, lat. ? lin. 
Hab. Guaremata, Paso Antonio 400 feet (Champion). 
The punctuation of the upper surface is very fine and scanty, and the serial punctures 
on the wing-cases can scarcely be detected ; the sutural stria is fine, and becomes so 
obsolete in front that it may be said to extend only about halfway to the base; the 
prosternum is without carina, and forms in the middle only a small obscure angle. 
The mesosternal lamina is very large. 
Although I have before me only two individuals of this small and obscure insect, I 
can entertain no doubt they represent a species distinct from P. equalis ; they are only 
of the size of the smallest individuals of that species, and have the prosternum entirely 
without carina, and the sutural stria on the wing-cases much less developed. 
6. Philydrus obscurus. 
Ovalis, sat convexus, nitidus, fuscus, limbo clypeoque utrinque pallidioribus ; antennarum basi, palpis pedibusque 
testaceis ; superne crebre et equaliter punctatus. 
Long. 2, lat. 17 lin. 
Hab. Mexico, Oaxaca (Hoge). 
This species bears a great resemblance to P. nigellus, from which, however, it is 
distinguished by an important structural character, viz. that the mesosternum has only 
a slight longitudinal elevation along the middle; the prosternum is quite destitute of 
