36 PHYTOPHAGA. 



SAXINIS. 

 Saxinis, Lacordaire, Mem. Liege, v. p. 478 (1848). 



Four out of the eight described species have been found in Central, the others # in 

 North and South America. They are not difficult to distinguish from the former genera, 

 on account of a tranverse basal depression in front of the scutellum, the strong and 

 closer punctuation of the elytra, and the produced lateral lobe of the same. 



1. Saxinis basilaris. 



Saxinis basilaris, Lacord. Mon. p. 481 \ 

 Hab. Mexico 1 , Orizaba (SalU). 



2. Saxinis qnadrina. 



Saxinis quadrina, Lacord. Mon. p. 482 1 . 

 Megalostomis mexicana, Dej. Cat. 3rd ed. p. 441. 



Hab. Mexico, Oaxaca, Parada (Salle) 1 ; Guatemala, near the city (Salvin). 



From the preceding species, to which the present is closely allied, this may be 

 distinguished by its distinct blue colour, the entirely black antennae, and by the punc- 

 tuation of the thorax, which is very close and deep. In S. basilaris the thorax is much 

 more finely and on the disk more obsoletely punctured, and the second and third joints 

 of the antenna? are fulvous. S. propinqua, Jacoby, is another allied species, in which the 

 thorax is finely and rather remotely punctured : in colour it approaches 8. quadrina ; but 

 the fulvous elytral spot only occupies the humeral callus, and the thorax is differently 

 shaped. 



3. Saxinis saginata. 



Saxinis saginata, Lacord. Mon. p. 483. 

 Hab. Mexico. 



The largest of the genus, specimens varying from black to dark blue ; the punctuation 

 of the elytra is distinctly visible with the naked eye. 



4. Saxinis guatemalensis. (Tab. n. fig. 21.) 



Saxinis guatemalensis, Jacoby, P. Z. S. 1876, p. 810. 

 Hab. Guatemala, near the city (Salvin). 



In size this species very nearly agrees with S. saginata ; but the elytra are much less 

 coarsely punctured, and the interstices between their strise are also finely and closely 

 punctate ; the space below the base of the elytra surrounding the scutellum is distinctly 

 raised. 



