SCOLOCHEUS. 61 



8. Scolochrus errans. (Tab. III. fig. 25.) 



Scolochrus errans, Suffr. Monogr. vii. p. 120 l . 



Hab. Mexico [Baly), Yucatan 1 . 



This is another somewhat doubtful species, described by Suffrian from a single female 

 specimen. The one figured is taken from the collection of Mr. Baly, and does not quite 

 agree with the typical description, inasmuch as the lateral margin of the thorax is 

 broadly black. More specimens are required in order to come to a conclusion as to the 

 specific value of Suffrian's type. 



9. Scolochrus decoratus. (Tab. III. fig. 23.) 



Scolochrus decoratus, Sturm, Cat. p. 303 (1843) ; Suffr. Monogr. vii. p. 124 \ 



Var. Scolochrus larvatus, Newm. Ann. Nat. Hist. ser. 2, iv. p. 250 1 (1840); Suffr. Monogr. xii. 



p. 390. 

 Scolochrus spadiceus, Suffr. Monogr. vii. p. 131 2 . 



Below black, sides of the abdomen and the legs yellow, above yellow ; thorax with two black lateral broad 

 bands ; elytra regularly punetate-striate, yellow, the base, a sutural spot below the scutellum, and a 

 transverse band below the middle black. 



* 



Var. a. 

 The black bands of the thorax abbreviated posteriorly ; elytra with a spot at the shoulder, another near the 

 scutellum, and a third one near the apex black. 



Var. b. 



Thorax with two small black spots ; each elytron with one black shoulder-spot, and another near the apex. 

 (S. larvatus.) 



Var. c. 



The elytral bands broken up into spots. 



Hab. North America, Florida 1 . — Mexico, Oaxaca 2 , Cordova, Tuxtla, Tehuantepec, 

 Vera Cruz (Salle). 



Besides the above varieties, several others have been described by Suffrian. This 

 author describes at length 8. larvatus, Newm., and compares it with 8. equestris, Fabr., 

 from which it is no doubt well distinguished ; but I am not able to find any important 

 difference between it and 8. decoratus, var. b. In the collection of Mr. Baly I find a 

 specimen labelled 8. larvatus, and marked " named by Suffrian ; " so that I must con- 

 sider this as good as the type itself, with which, according to the description, it certainly 

 agrees well enough ; but I have no doubt whatever that the species is but a variety of 

 8. decoratus, of which the intermediate forms are before me. From others the present 

 species may be recognized, amongst other characters, by the posterior extreme lateral 

 margin, which is brown or black, the anterior part remaining of the ground-colour, and 

 which is constant in all the specimens I have examined. 



The figure on our Plate is from a Mexican specimen. The Berlin specimens have 

 been kindly lent me by Dr. Peters — also Suffrian's type of 8. spadiceus, in which I can 



