OOSTERNUM.—MEGASTERNUM. 113 
Cryptopleurum. The middle of the prosternum is distinctly differentiated from the 
sides, soas to form a kind of small table, which, however, is not flat as in Cryptopleurum, 
but the sides are sloping or roof-like, and it is raised and carinate along the middle. 
The central piece of the mesosternum is broader than in Cercyon, and forms a 
narrowly oval piece, which behind is not accurately connected with the metasternum. 
The legs are short, the tibiee rather strongly spinulose ; the tarsi feeble. 
1. Oosternum costatum, (Tab. III. fig. 16.) 
Minutum, ovale, rufum, opacum, supra tenuiter pubescens, plus minusye fuscescens ; antennarum basi, palpis 
pedibusque testaceis ; prothorace irregulariter haud dense punctato ; elytrerum interstitiis alternis versus 
apicem costato-elevatis, ceteris versus apicem humilioribus ; mesosterni medio fortiter punctato. 
Long. 2, lat. 3 lin. 
Hab. Muxico, Puebla (Sallé); Guaremana, Guatemala city, El Reposo 800 feet, 
Coatepeque 1300 feet, El Tumbador 2500 feet (Champion); Nicaracua, Chontales 
(Janson). 
Head finely punctate, dull. Thorax distinctly margined at the sides, the surface 
rather irregularly punctate, the punctures not being all of one size and not at regular 
distances from one another; there is a scanty and fine but rather elongate pubescence. 
Elytra very deeply sculptured, the alternate interstices towards the apex being very 
much raised; and this is the more remarkable as those next them are more flattened ; 
the striz are punctate, and the intervals pubescent. ‘The central piece of the meso- 
sternum bears very coarse punctures; the middle of the metasternum is shining and 
bears some coarse punctures, the sides and ventral segments dull and impunctate. 
Many specimens of this species have been sent by Mr. Champion: they vary a good 
deal in the colour of the body, and but little in other respects; neither do the single 
individuals from Mexico and Chontales show any important variation. 
MEGASTERNUM. 
Megasternum, Mulsant, Col. Fr. Palp. p. 187. 
This genus consists of four species—one European, one North-American, and two 
Japanese. The species, however, do not agree very satisfactorily iter se, and it is 
probable that they will have to be separated as distinct genera. ‘The species here 
described would in that case form also a distinct genus, approximating in several 
respects to Cryptopleurum. I am unacquainted with the North-American species 
ascribed with some hesitation by Leconte to the genus; but from his description and 
remarks (Proc. Ac. Phil. 1855, p. 374) it appears very improbable that it is con- 
generic with the European insect. 
1. Megasternum strigicolle. (Tab. IV. fig. 1.) 
Ovale, perconvexum, angustulum, nigrum, nitidum, parcissime pubescens ; antennarum basi, palpis pedibusque 
BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. I. Pt. 2, December 1882. QQ 
