PHYSOEHINUS. 387 



Var. /3. The elytra each with a reddish stripe on the outer part of the disc extending from the hase to the 

 apex and widening posteriorly. (Fig. 9.) 



Hab. Guatemala, Zapote (Champion). 



Var. y. The elytral markings entirely obliterated. 

 Physorhinus sericeus, Cand. Monogr. Elat. ii. p. 392 3 . 



Hab. Mexico, Cordova (/Salle 3 ), Cerro de Plumas, Jalapa (Edge); Guatemala, El 

 Reposo (Champion). 



I have examined the types of the three insects described by Candeze, and there can 

 be no doubt, judging from our very long series of specimens, that they are extreme forms 

 of one variable species. As he remarks \ P. distigma chiefly differs from P. erythro- 

 cephalus in the obliteration of the large flavous ante-median spot on the disc of each 

 elytron. P. cephalicus is the commonest form in Central America. Of the variety /3 

 three specimens were obtained at Zapote. Of P. sericeus, the type of which has the 

 elytra somewhat abnormally formed, so as to appear flattened, eight examples are 

 before me ; it occurred at El Eeposo with P. cephalicus and intermediate forms. The 

 variation in size is very great — from 8J-15 millim. in length, and from 2J-4J millim. 

 in breadth. Upwards of one hundred examples have been examined, showing great 

 variation in the form of the elytral spots ; the largest of these specimens are from 

 Belize and Coban, the smallest from Chacoj in the Polochic valley. The insect chiefly 

 inhabits the " tierra caliente." It is equally common on the Atlantic and Pacific slopes 

 of Guatemala. We figure a female of the typical form, from Bugaba ; a large male of 

 the var. cephalicus, from Belize ; and a male of the var. |3, from Zapote. 



3. Physorhinus quadrinotatllS. (Tab. XVII. figg. 10, <j ; 10 a, hind angles 

 of pro thorax ; 10 b, genitalia.) 



Elongate, somewhat fusiform, rather convex, shining, thickly clothed with long, coarse, fulvous pubescence ; 

 blackish-brown or obscure reddish-brown, with the head, a spot on the margin of the elytra a little below 

 the base, and another — larger and rounded — spot on the outer part of the disc at about one-third from the 

 apex, yellow or orange-yellow, the hind angles of the prothorax and the basal and apical margins of the 

 elytra sometimes rusty-red ; the antenna? ferruginous, the legs brownish-testaceous. Head thickly, finely 

 punctate ; antenna? rather stout, 1 and extending to about the basal fifth of the elytra in the male, a little 

 shorter in the female, joint 3 very short, slightly longer than 2. Prothorax broader than long, rapidly 

 narrowing from the middle forwards, the sides parallel at the base ; the hind angles acutely produced, 

 sharply bicarinate, the inner carina oblique, the outer one straight and close to the margin ; the surface 

 finely and rather closely punctate. Elytra moderately elongate, rapidly narrowing from a little below 

 the base, the sides slightly rounded, the apical margins feebly denticulate ; finely and somewhat thickly 

 punctate, the sutural stria only distinct, the others obsolete. Beneath thickly punctured ; the median 

 dilated portion of the posterior coxal plates sharply angulate behind. 



Length 9^-12, breadth 2£-3^ millim. ( <5 $ .) 



Hab. Nicaeagua, Chontales (Belt) ; Panama, Bugaba, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion). 

 Seven examples. This insect is closely allied to P. erythrocephalus, but differs from 



3D2 



