364 STAPHYLINIDA. 
P. amenus, P. cyanescens, and P. cupreus, Guérin-Mén., and Trigonopselaphus violaceus 
and 7’. venustus, Shp. The insects of this genus are all remarkable for the brilliancy 
and beauty of their colours; but the species are very closely allied and form a most 
difficult study. In certain of them the impressed lines on the basal dorsal segments, 
which when well developed are considered of generic importance in the Xanthopygina, 
exist in a rudimentary state, and appear to me to offer great assistance in discriminating 
the species. The genus is confined to Tropical America, and has its headquarters in 
the northern and north-western portions of South America. Mr. Buckley informed me 
that a very brilliant species he brought trom Ecuador was common under dried dung ; 
Mr. Champion found most of the few individuals he met with on the wing, I believe ; 
and Mr. Flohr finds a species amongst moss and dead leaves, so that it would appear 
that the habits of these lovely creatures are somewhat varied. It is impossible in the 
Plate to do justice to their polished and brilliant metallic colours. 
1. Phanolinus obsoletus. 
Minor, fulgidus, auratus ; elytris, pedibus antennisque basi purpureo-metallicis, antennis extrorsum tarsisque 
fuscis ; thorace seriebus dorsalibus parum punctatis, punctis lateralibus perpaucis ; abdomine parce punc- 
tato, segmentis 2°-4™ profunde transversim impressis. 
Long. 18 millim. 
Hab. Mexico (ex coll. Guérin-Ménéville). 
This insect has, compared with most of its congeners, but little punctuation on the 
head and thorax. The palpi are rufescent at the extremity; the distant punctures on 
the head and thorax are coarse; the thoracic series of punctures on each side consists 
of about six, with two or three others nearly intercalated; there are also a few irregu- 
larly placed punctures near the front on each side, but the posterior parts are destitute 
of punctures except at the margins. 
Although closely allied to P. fohri, I am inclined to think this may be a distinct 
species, the punctuation of the elytra and hind body being not quite so effaced, and the 
tarsi and terminal joints of the palpi are paler. ‘The unique individual is a male, and 
has a broad shallow notch at the extremity of the last ventral plate. 
2. Phanolinus flohri. (Tab. IX. fig. 7.) 
Cupreo-auratus, fulgidus; elytris purpureo-metallicis, antennarum basi pedibusque nigro-cyaneis, antennis 
extrorsum tarsisque nigro-fuscis; thorace perparum punctato ; elytris obsolete punctatis ; abdomine parce 
obsoleteque punctato, segmentis 2°-4™ transversim impressis. 
Long. 21 millim. 
Hab. Mexico, Jalapa, Almolonga (Flohr). 
The punctures on the head are very distant and not numerous, moderately coarse. 
The palpi are piceous; the punctures of the thoracic series are only four or five in 
number, and besides this there are only five or six other punctures on each side near 
