CRYPTOCEPHALUS. 53 



have each a yellow spot at the end of the thighs. Two females were received from 

 Costa Eica, which do not differ from each other. 



34. Cryptocephalus militaris. (Tab. III. fig. 5.) 



Cryptocephalus militaris, Suffr. Monogr. vii. p. 53, xii. p. 374 \ 

 Cryptocephalus purpureomaculatus, Suffr. Monogr. vii. p. 51 2 . 

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



Metallic green below, finely pubescent ; above metallic greenish blue ; thorax closely rugosely punctate ; elytra 

 deeply punctate-striate, each elytron with a large triangular patch at the shoulder and a small apical spot 

 bright red. 



Length 2-3 lines. 



Hab. Mexico 12 , Izucar, Etla, Puebla (SalU); Guatemala, near the city (Salving 'El 

 Jicaro, Vera Paz (Champion) ; Nicakagua, Chontales (Belt). 



This handsome species is not uncommon in Mexico, and is contained in most collec- 

 tions. It is very variable in size and colour, one specimen in M. Salle's collection having 

 the surface of the elytra entirely red with only a small sutural blue spot, while another 

 specimen is entirely blue with a small square-shaped red spot at the shoulder ; the blue 

 colour of the elytra is sometimes changed to black. Suffrian, who describes his C. mili- 

 taris as black and red, says \ that black varieties exist according to his informant Truqui, 

 but does not say whether the entire insect is of that colour, or how far the latter extends. 

 I have never seen entirely black specimens. The figure represents a Mexican specimen, 

 which does not differ from the type in the Berlin Museum. 



35. Cryptocephalus basalis, (Tab. IV. fig. 4.) 



Cryptocephalus basalis, Suffr. Monogr. vii. p. 54, xii. p. 376 1 . 

 Cryptocephalus cruentatus, Suffr. Monogr. vii. p. 56 2 . 

 Cryptocephalus mucoreus, Lee. Col. Kans. 1860, p. 23 3 . 



Black or red, finely pubescent ; thorax finely rugosely punctured, black, the anterior margin and two more or 

 less distinct basal spots red ; elytra coarsely punctate-striate, the interstices finely transversely rugose, 

 covered throughout with fine grey hairs, black, the base red. 



Length 2|-3 lines. 



Var. a. 



Sides of thorax, base, sides, and central transverse spot, together with the apex of the elytra, red. (C. cruen- 

 tatus, Suffr.) 



Var. b. 

 Elytra red, with a posterior black elongate spot on each. 



Var. c. 

 Elytra and thorax black, a triangular spot at the base and a smaller one at the apex red. 



Hab. Noeth Amekica, Texas 3 . — Mexico \ Parada, Yolotepec, Cuernavaca (SalU) ; 

 Guatemala, Duenas, Capetillo (Champion). 



The numerous specimens before me bring me to the conclusion that C. basalis and 



