42 PHYTOPHAGA. 



A species allied to M. saponatus, Fabr., but distinguished by the deep punctuation 

 of the elytra and the minute punctuation of the thorax; the antennae in M. saponatus 

 have their first four joints fulvous; in all the specimens of the present species only the 

 first two are of this colour. 



CRYPTOCEPHALUS. 

 Cryptocephalus, Geoffrey, Hist. Ins. pars 1, 1762, p. 231 ; Suffrian, Monogr. Entom. vols, ii.-xvi. 



More than 800 species are contained in this genus, about forty inhabiting Central 

 America; the species from the latter country, although somewhat closely allied in 

 colour and sculpture to North- American species, yet seem to form a small special 

 group by themselves, not extending to either South or North America with but few 

 exceptions. While the Old World possesses but few species with regular punctured 

 elytra, those of the New World have these parts deeply and regularly punctate-striate; 

 the sexual differences are clearly expressed in the longer antennae of the male and the 

 deep abdominal groove in the female. Another well-marked sexual character which I 

 do not find mentioned by Suffrian or other authors, is the much greater length of the 

 posterior thighs in the male, which extend to the end of the elytra in all the species I 

 have examined, and enable one to distinguish the sex at first sight. 



1. Cryptocephalus abruptus. 



Cryptocephalus abruptus, Suffr. Monogr. vi. p. 245. 



Rufous; thorax impunctate, its margin and two spots at the base light yellow; elytra testaceous, with three 



black longitudinal vittse, deeply punctate-striate. 

 Length 2| lines. 



Hab. Mexico. 



Kindly lent to me for examination by Dr. Peters. 



2. Cryptocephalus hirtus. 



Cryptocephalus hirtus, Suffr. Monogr. vi. p. 286, xii. p. 361 1 . 

 Cryptocephalus mexicanus, Dej. Cat. 3rd ed. p. 447. 



Dark brown above, finely pubescent ; thorax very closely punctured, the interstices aciculate. with an elevated 

 central ridge ; elytra deeply punctate-striate, finely covered with hairs set in rows, dark brown, with 

 three interrupted reddish transverse fasciae, consisting of short longitudinal streaks. 



Length 1| line. 



Hab. Mexico 1 , Oaxaca {Salle). 



3. Cryptocephalus alternans. 



Cryptocephalus alternans, Suffr. Monogr. vi. p. 290. 



Yellow above ; three spots on the head, a heart-shaped one at the base of the thorax, and three oblique bands 



at the elytra black ; below and the legs black and yellow. 

 Length 2| lines. 



Hab. Mexico. 



