110 RHYNCHOPHORA. 
Group 2.—Rostrum usually not broader—even a little narrower—towards the tip ; 
thorax subconical or subcylindric in form. (Species 12-38.) 
This group contains a number of discrepant forms, which cannot be tabularly sepa- 
rated in a practically useful way, the slight structural distinctions varying from species 
to species in a very perplexing manner. 
12. Epicerus mexicanus. 
Epicerus mexicanus, Boh. in Schénh. Gen. Cure. ii, p. 324°; vi. 2, p. 271°. 
Epicerus eruginosus, Boh. op. cit. vi. 2, p. 276°. 
Epicerus cyphus, Boh. t. c. p. 272°. 
Epicerus transversepunctatus, Boh. t. c. p. 271°. 
Hab. Mexico 12345, Tierra Colorada and Omilteme, both in Guerrero (H. #. 
Smith), Chilpancingo (Hége), Orizaba (Godman, Sallé), Vera Cruz, Toxpam, Guana- 
juato (Sallé), Oaxaca, Misantla, Jalapa (Hége). 
This is a very variable insect and presents considerable sexual differences, which 
also appear to be inconstant. The size and colour, the punctuation of the elytra, the 
shape of the thorax, and the impression of the rostrum all exhibit much discrepancy in 
the large series before me, and yet after repeated attempts I fail to discover any constant 
characters as marks of specific distinction. J have examined the cedeagus in four of 
the varieties, and though I find it presents slight differences in each of them I do not 
think these are beyond the range of variation possible in this organ. I must, however, 
state that I am by no means sure that there may not prove to be several closely allied 
but variable species. I had decided from Boheman’s descriptions that his £. mexicanus, 
E. eruginosus, EL. cyphus, and E. transversepunctatus all referred to one variable 
species, and the types since sent me from Schonherr’s collection by Dr. Aurivillius 
quite confirm this view. 
13. Epicerus fallax. 
Epicerus fallax, Boh. in Schonh. Gen. Cure. vi. 2, p. 274°. 
Hab. Mexico! (Sallé; coll. Sharp). 
° 
This insect is extremely similar to some of the varieties of E. mexicanus; but the 
female can be distinguished by a glance at the peculiar form of the apical portion of 
the wing-cases, the sutural part projecting backwards just before the declivity in an 
abrupt manner instead of being broadly rounded. The male is much more likely to 
be passed over as being E. mexicanus, but this sex of EL. fallax may be satistactorily 
determined by the following slight peculiarities: the thorax is not rounded at the 
sides and constricted behind, but straight, and from the middle to the front gently 
narrowed ; its surface is more even than that of E. mewxicanus, the only inequality that 
