CKIOCEEIS.— MEGASCELIS. 17 



closely allied to the latter, but differs in the following points : — The elytral bands are 

 as broad as in C. gemmans, while the punctuation of the elytra is equally strong as in 

 this latter species: moreover the colour of the abdomen is always metallic green in 

 C. nullicedo ; in the species before me, as well as in C. gemmans, it is stained with 

 fulvous. The thorax in C. gemmans is much more transverse and the lateral grooves 

 obsolete, while in C. intermedia and C. nullicedo they are strongly impressed; the 

 present species is also devoid of the coppery patches which adorn the shoulders, head, 

 and legs of C. gemmans. These differences are too marked and constant to admit of the 

 species being considered a variety of either 0. gemmans or C. nullicedo. 

 Received from the above localities in numerous specimens. 



12. Crioceris sallasi. (Tab. I. fig. 15.) 



Crioceris sallei, Baly, Jonrn. of Entom. i. 1861, p. 195. 

 Hah. Mexico, Oaxaca. 



13. Crioceris scabrosa. (Tab. I. fig. 17.) 



Crioceris scabrosa, Baly, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. 3, vol. xvi. p. 153. 

 Hah. Mexico. 



MEGASCELIS. 



Megascelis, Latreille, Cuv. Regn. Anim. i. p. 138 (1829). 



Although about ninety species of this genus are known, but few have been described 

 from Central America, the great majority having been found in South America, and 

 one species in Honolulu. On account of their similarity of coloration, these insects are 

 very difficult to determine ; and even the best description cannot always give a clear 

 idea of the species, which are very variable amongst themselves, so that a good many 

 specimens are required in order to come to certain conclusions as regards their specific 

 distinctions. 



1. Megascelis dilecta. 



Megascelis dilecta, Clark, Cat. Phyt. App. p. 8. 



Hah. Mexico; Guatemala, Duefias, Capetillo {Champion). 



The specimens from Guatemala agree very nearly with Clark's type, contained in the 

 collection of the British Museum. The insect is of a bright grass-green above ; the 

 head and thorax are very deeply and closely punctured ; the elytral suture is but very 

 narrowly fuscous ; the antennae have their first four joints testaceous, the rest piceous ; 

 and the breast is metallic green. In the type the antennae are testaceous, stained with 

 fuscous, the whole underside is testaceous, and the suture of the elytra is a little more 

 distinctly purplish-coloured. 



biol. cent.-amee., Coleopt., Vol. VI. Pt. 1, June 1880. d 



