SCIETES. COT 



posterior tibiae shorter than in the typical species of the genus, the European S. hemi- 

 sphcerica (Linn.), in which it is about as long as the first tarsal joint. So far as I have 

 been able to observe, the Central-American species also differ from S. hemisphcerica, 

 as well as from the North-American S. tibialis, Guer., and S. troberti, Horn (nee 

 Guer.), in having the sides of the head margined below the eyes. Hitherto, the whole 

 of the saltatorial Dascillids from all parts of the world have, with two exceptions, been 

 referred to the one genus, Scirtes, but it is certain that some of them belong to distinct 

 genera ; several, as already noticed, are here separated under the name Ora, Clark. 



Sixty-nine species of Scirtes have been described, and many more are now added. 

 S. suborbiculatus, S. pilatei, and others are extremely variable in colour. I am unable 

 to detect any external sexual characters. 



These insects are found in marshy places, on long grass or on various species of 

 Salix, and owing to their extreme agility are very difficult to capture. 



a. Prothorax arcuately dilated at the sides, narrowed behind; elytra striped 



(except in the pale variety) ; form oblong : length 6 millim oblongus. 



b. Prothorax not dilated at the sides, shorter, and forming almost a continuous 



outline with the elytra. 

 a'. Elytra deeply emarginate in front ; legs very stout, the hind tibiae bowed 

 inwards ; form transversely orbicular, very convex ; body black above, the 



elytra bluish-violaceous, clothed with cinereous hairs cteruleus. 



V . Elytra not deeply emarginate in front ; legs more slender, the hind tibiae 

 straighter ; form less convex. 

 a" . Form rotundate or rotundate-oval, moderately convex ; pubescence fine 

 and sparse : length 3-4 millim. 

 a'" . Elytra rather coarsely punctate ; body rufo-testaceous, the elytra in 



the typical form with more than the apical half black rotundatus. 



V" . Elytra finely and more sparsely punctate ; body brownish, the prothorax 

 reddish-yellow, paler at the sides, the elytra usually with the sutural, 



basal, and lateral margins infuscate circumcinctus. 



c'" . Elytra finely, moderately closely punctate ; body black or piceous, the 



prothorax with the sides broadly flavous or entirely reddish-yellow . thoracicus. 

 b". Form broadly oval or broadly elliptic, moderately convex. 



d'" . Antennae stout and moderately long, black, the third joint shorter 

 than the second j body black, the prothorax and a shoulder-spot on 



each elytron rufo-testaceous : length 4 millim scapularis. 



e'" . Antennae slender, long or moderately long. 



a 4 . Third antennal joint as long as or not much shorter than the 

 second. 

 a 5 . Pubescence rather long and coarse ; prothorax narrowing from 

 the base ; elytra moderately closely and not very finely punc- 

 tate ; body varying in colour from piceous to rufo-testaceous : 

 length 3—4^ millim pilatei. 



