TZ 
CANTHARIS. 447 
joints in the male. The longer antenne in both sexes and the less transverse thorax 
distinguish it from C. variabilis, Dugés, apart from the different male-characters; and 
the coarsely punctured head and thorax &c. separate it from C. michoacane, C. bigut- 
tata, &c. The thorax in two specimens shows traces of four spots in a transverse line 
across the middle, a system of coloration not visible in any of the varietal forms of 
C. proteus or C. variabilis. 
20. Cantharis variabilis. 
Cantharis variabilis, Dugés, La Naturaleza, i. p. 111, t. 1. figg. 11, c’—-c° (1869) *; An. Mus. Michoa- 
cano, ii. p. 107°. 
Lydus coracinus, Sturm, Cat. p. 173°. 
Hab. Mexico? (Sallé, ex coll. Sturm), San Luis Potosi (Dr. Palmer), Guanajuato 
(Dugés 1°, Sallé), Tupataro (Dugés *). 
A variety of this species with the thorax reddish-yellow with two black spots on the 
disc occurs at Guanajuato, the thorax in the typical form being entirely black : copulated 
specimens of the two forms have been received by us from M. Sallé. The head and 
thorax are coarsely punctured, the latter transverse, rounded at the sides anteriorly, 
feebly emarginate in the centre at the base, obsoletely canaliculate, and with a smooth 
bare spot on either side of the disc at the middle; the ‘elytra are finely scabrous- 
punctate ; the antenne are comparatively short, gradually thickened outwardly in both 
sexes, the joints moniliform; the outer spur of the hind tibiz is very stout, the inner 
one acute. The male has the sixth ventral segment very feebly emarginate. C. varia- 
bilis is possibly synonymous with C. puberula, Lec., as noted by Dr. Horn (Trans. Am. 
Ent. Soc. xii. p. 107); but till the male of Leconte’s species is discovered it is impos- 
sible to speak with certainty. C. variabilis is the only one of several allied Mexican 
forms to which Leconte’s description will apply. 
921. Cantharis michoacanez. 
Moderately elongate, brassy-black, the prothorax reddish-yellow with a small black spot on either side of the 
middle of the disc, sparsely pubescent, shining, the elytra opaque. Head very sparsely, coarsely punctate, 
the eyes large ; antenne rather short, thickening outwardly in both sexes, the outer joints ovate; pro- 
thorax as long as broad, emarginate in the centre at the base, the sides rounded in front and almost 
parallel behind, the disc transversely depressed anteriorly, the surface very sparsely punctured ; elytra 
finely scabrous-punctate; beneath somewhat thickly punctured ; the outer spur of the hind tibize mode- 
rately stout, the inner one acute. 
$. Sixth ventral segment feebly emarginate. 
Length 6-93 millim. (3 9.) 
Hab. Mexico, Huetamo and ‘Tacambaro in Michoacan (Hége). 
Twelve examples. This small species approaches C. bipuncticollis, from which it 
differs in its blacker elytra, less elongate shape, and smaller size, as well as by the male- 
characters. From the similarly-coloured variety of C. variabilis, Dugés, its much more 
