214 RHYNCHOPHORA. 
of the extremities of the prothorax and elytra, a marked feature of the type, is variable 
and not always present; the elytra are even more finely punctate and the strie less 
impressed, but as there is some difference in these respects between individuals, it may 
be supposed that the type is rather more strongly sculptured than usual. It is also 
rather more pilose, a matter probably of condition. 
X. propinguus may be separated from its neighbours, except X. morulus, by its darker 
colour, distinct punctuation of the basal half of the prothorax, the discal elevation of 
which is umbonate rather than transverse, the very fine punctures of the elytral rows, 
of which the sutural row only is distinctly impressed, and the finely punctate interstices. 
_X. propinguus does not appear to have been differentiated by North-American 
entomologists among the congeries of forms known as X. pubescens, Zimm. But it is 
open to conjecture whether Hichhoff’s locality is correct, as much of his material seems 
to have been from old and therefore imperfectly-labelled collections. ‘The thoracic 
punctuation separates it from XY. alternans, Hichh., if that species be really distinct 
and not varietal. 
29. Xyleborus torquatus. | 
9. Xyleborus torquatus, Kichh. Berl. ent. Zeitschr. 1868, p. 146’; Rat. Tom. p. 378°. 
9. ?Xyleborus badius, Hichh. Berl. ent. Zeitschr. 1868, p. 280°; Rat. Tom. p. 379°. 
Hab. Mexico, Presidio (Forrer), Jalapa, Cordova (Hége), Atoyac in Vera Cruz 
(21. H. Smith), Motzorongo in Vera Cruz (Flohr), Toxpam, San Andrés Tuxtla, Teapa 
(Sallé); British Honpuras, Rio Hondo (Blancaneaur); GuatEMALA, Panima in Vera 
Paz, El Tumbador, El Reposo, Cerro Zunil, Zapote (Champion); Nicaragua, Grenada 
(Sallé), Chontales (Janson); Panama, Tolé (Champion).—Brazit!2; Peru2; ANTILLES, 
Cuba! 24, Porto Rico ! 7,A—Mapagascar® 4; Mavririus?; Taniri4: Japan. 
Under the above title are included two forms which Eichhoff treats as separate 
species. Possibly this is the case ; typical examples of each can be readily recognized, 
and X. torquatus, when mature, is fuscous or piceous-red. This colour is never seen 
in examples outside Tropical America. It is between the light-coloured examples of 
X. torquatus and the typical form of XY. badius that discrimination becomes so difficult. 
Eichhoff* gives the following characters by which to separate XY. badius :—*Statura, 
magnitudine et sculptura XY. torquato maxime similis, sed uti videtur constanter dilutius 
coloratus, totus ferrugineus vel ferrugineo-testaceus, elytris quamvis paullulum, tamen 
perspicue subtilius atque fere ad amussim punctato-striatis; interstitiis nonnihil lati- 
oribus, pro rata striarum principalium profundius necnon confertius seriatim punctatis, 
interstitio 2° in declivitate leviter impresso. Forte tamen mera varietas localitatis 
antecedentis..... ” These differences can only be relied on to separate well-marked 
examples. Light and dark forms are about equally common among the fifty or more 
Central-American examples before me, and after numerous attempts I have not been 
