CHELONARIUM. 685 
species have hitherto been very inadequately described, and their recognition is at 
present little better than guesswork. 
The punctuation of the elytra is of great importance. If one of the species having 
little clothing be examined, it will be seen that the punctuation is formed by double 
punctures, a comparatively large circular depression and a very small one near it: 
the distance between the pair varies according to the species, but the position is always 
similar, viz., the larger puncture behind, and in front of it the very minute one; the 
latter always bears the seta. Towards the tip of the elytra the large punctures are 
larger and the arrangement becomes confused. In the species that bear a clothing of 
white hairs, in addition to the sete, the arrangement of the punctuation is less regular ; 
the surface becomes more or less dull in consequence of reticulation and unevenness, 
and the patches of white hair arise from groups of very minute punctures. ‘Che more 
polished species can readily be recognized by peculiaritics of the sculpture and sete; 
but those bearing patches of white clothing cannot at present be satisfactorily limited. 
I have failed to find any reliable external signs of the sex. 
In the following diagnoses the length is measured from the front of the thorax to 
the tip of the elytra. 
1. Chelonarium mexicanum. 
? Chelonarium mexicanum, Castelnau, in Silbermann’s Rev. Ent. iii. p. 178 (1835) ; Chevrolat, 
Le Naturaliste, ii. p. 260 (August 1880). 
Hab. Mexico, Cerro de Plumas (Hége), Toxpam, Cordova, Playa Vicente, Tuxtla, 
Orizaba (Sallé). 
Var. longulum, var.n. Nigrum, politum, elongatum. Long. 53-73 millim. 
Hab. Panama, Bugaba, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion). 
Var. mexicanum, i. sp. 
Brevius, rufo-piceum, pectore piceo ; punctatura et setositate minimis. Long. 6 millim. 
Hab. GuatemaLa, Yzabal (Sallé), 
Var. chontalense, var.n. Brevius, nigrum, setositate perparva. Long. 6 millim. 
Hab. Nicaragua, Chontales (Belt, in coll. Sharp). 
I refer to this species all those specimens that have the surface quite polished, 
sparingly punctate, and apparently destitute of any clothing. On examination it is 
seen, however, that each puncture bears an extremely minute seta only about as long 
as the diameter of the puncture. All the other forms found in our region have a 
distinct clothing, consisting of comparatively long fine hairs, which in the case of some 
of them are scanty in number. In C. mexicanum, however, the elytral punctures are 
not geminate. As thus limited, the present species exhibits considerable variation, 
