PHILONTHUS. AQ] 
Hab. Norta America, Texas (coll. Sharp).—Mexico1?34%, Parada, Ktla, Toluca, 
Guanajuato, Cuernavaca, Capulalpam (Sallé), Oaxaca, Las Vigas, Mirador, Jalapa 
(Hoge); Guarmmata, Capetillo, Aceituno, Guatemala city, San Gerdénimo, Calderas, 
Ostuncalco 7500 feet, Quezaltenango 7800 feet, Quiche Mountains 7900 feet (Cham- 
pion); Costa Rica, Ivazu 6000 to 7000 feet (Rogers); Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui up 
to 6000 feet (Champion). 
This is a most variable species. The greater part of the Mexican examples agree 
pretty well with Erichson’s description (made from a single mutilated example), but 
there occur also some very remarkable varieties of coloration; one of these, found near 
Guatemala city by Mr. Champion, is represented (fig. 9); a similar example, but with 
more black colour on the hind body, was found in an ants’ nest at Jalapa by Flohr; a 
second variety, of which four examples agreeing inter se are extant, from Calpulalpam 
(fig. 10). In Guatemala the larger portion of the specimens were found at a considerable 
elevation, and agree pretty closely with the ordinary Mexican form ; nearly all the speci- 
mens from this region not registered as being found at much altitude are varieties, one of 
which from San Ger6nimo is figured (fig. 8); this variety is of large size, with elongate 
antenne, golden brassy, coarsely punctate elytra, and shows very brilliant reflections on 
the hind body. From the State of Panama many examples are before me; they agree 
closely inter se, are of dark colour, and differ only from the ordinary Mexican form in 
their rather larger stature. As a rule the species may be recognized by the peculiar 
scanty punctuation of the hind body, the surface of which exhibits iridescent reflections, 
and the few punctures on which are conspicuously setigerous ; but there may be developed 
between these punctures an additional punctuation, which in a few examples reaches 
such an extent as to cause the hind body to be evenly though never closely punctate. 
It is remarkable that most of the varieties—differing widely as they do among them- 
selves—depart from the type form by a slight structural variation, inasmuch as the 
transverse carina of the mesosternum, which in this species is very greatly developed, is 
only slightly waved in the middle, whereas in the type form it is a little more produced 
backwards, and forms in the middle an obtuse angle. I have satisfied myself by com- 
parison of many of the varieties that this slight structural character is variable. Though 
P. piceatus is pretty certainly a variable species, it is far from improbable that some 
of the forms I have treated as varieties of it may prove to be really distinct species, 
more or less approximated to by variations of P. piceatus. The P. rufo-plagiatus, 
Solsky, is pretty certainly a variety allied to that represented by fig. 10 of our plate. 
13. Philonthus iris. (Tab. X. fig. 11.) 
Philonthus iris, H. Dugés in litt. 
Niger ; elytris lete cyaneis, antennarum basi pedibusque rufo-testaceis, abdomine metallico-versicolore ; capite 
subovato, elytris abdomineque crebre minus subtiliter punctatis. 
Long. 13 millim. 
BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. I. Pt. 2, January 1885. 3 FF 
