OXIDATES, 265 
said to be “a& peine convexe”: in our examples the thorax is moderately trans- 
versely convex ; still compared with the typical species of Spherotus its shape might 
be thus described. 
4. Oxidates mexicanus. 
Spherotus mexicanus, de Bréme, Revue Zool. 1842, p. 110°. 
Hab. Mexico 1, Cordova (Sal/é). 
In O. mexicanus the punctures of the elytra are much smaller and more widely 
separated than in the other species of the genus. 
5. Oxidates princeps. (Tab. XI. fig. 20, 3.) 
Black, above tinged (the elytra especially) with greenish-bronze, slightly shining. Head finely, shallowly, and 
somewhat closely punctured ; antenne long, slender ; prothorax about as long as broad, the sides slightly 
rounded, about equally narrowed at the base and apex, feebly transversely convex, the anterior angles 
broadly rounded, the base very strongly margined, the surface dull black, exceedingly finely and shallowly 
and somewhat closely punctured, a row of coarser impressions in front of the basilar groove; scutellum 
rather large and distinct ; elytra the width of the prothorax at the base, abruptly constricted behind and 
with the apex somewhat broadly produced, with rows of coarse rounded impressions, the impressions 
scarcely finer towards the suture and slightly tinged with metallic golden within, more shining than the 
prothorax, of a dark greenish-bronze tint ; beneath shining, almost smooth ; prosternum very broad, sub- 
horizontal, broadly produced, the apex rounded but not raised, smooth, and with a deep U-shaped mark 
between the coxe ; mesosternum simple ; epipleurze extending to the last ventral suture, almost obsolete 
beyond ; intercoxal process very broad, the anterior margin broadly raised; legs black ; the posterior 
tibize clothed with short fulvous hair within in their apical third in the male. 
Length 14 millim. (<.) 
Hab. Mexico, Oaxaca (Hége). 
One example. This species closely resembles O. thoracicus, but is considerably larger, 
the thorax longer and not so strongly rounded at the sides, the elytra longer, &c. 
6. Oxidates aurichalceus. 
Golden-bronze, slightly shining. Head comparatively closely and very evidently, though finely, punctured ; 
prothorax moderately transversely convex, nearly as long as broad, the sides rounded, constricted before 
the base, and about equally narrowed at the base and apex, the anterior angles broadly rounded, the hind 
angles subrectangular, the base very strongly margined, the surface very finely and closely punctured ; 
elytra broader than the prothorax at the base, moderately rounded at the sides, comparatively somewhat 
depressed on the basal half of the disc, with rows of coarse irregular more or less longitudinal impressions 
and in the centre of each of which is a smaller impression, the interspaces finely and very shallowly punc- 
tured ; beneath dark bronze, shining ; prosternum strongly produced, subhorizontal, the apex not raised : 
legs black, finely, closely, and shallowly punctured. 
Length 15 millim. 
Hab. Mexico (Galeotti, in Brit. Mus.). 
This distinct species is not very closely allied to any of the others here noticed; it 
will be known by the characters given above. The single example in the National 
collection is in a very mutilated condition, without antenne or abdomen. 
BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. IV. Pt. 1, January 1887. 2MM 
