152 PHYTOPHAGA. 



apex, with a shallow depression below the base ; shoulders scarcely prominent, surface regularly punctate- 

 striate, the punctuation stronger than that of the thorax, but getting finer towards the apex ; presternum 

 broad, pubescent. 



Hab. Nicaeagua, Chontales (Janson). 



The uniform violaceous colour distinguishes this species well from any of its allies ; 

 and although its general shape resembles almost entirely that of a species of the genus 

 Chalcophana, the broad and truncate prosternum will at once reveal its proper place. 

 The female is much larger, the thorax much more dilated at the sides ; and the tarsi are 

 of normal shape, while those of the male are distinctly widened, as is usually the case. 

 One male and two female specimens were obtained by Janson. 



9. Rhabdophorus fulvipes. 



Ovate, piceous below ; legs and antennae fulvous, joints seventh and the two terminal ones piceous ; above 

 seneous ; thorax subremotely punctured ; elytra subgeminate punctate-striate, their apex longitudinally 

 costate ; tarsi piceous. 



Var. Tarsi as well as the legs fulvous. 



Length 2-2^ lines. 



Head rather closely and distinctly punctured ; clypeus not separated from the face ; labrum fulvous ; antennas 

 about half the length of the body, light fulvous, the seventh and two last joints piceous, nearly equal in 

 length ; thorax transverse, the sides deflexed anteriorly, all the angles acute and slightly produced out- 

 wards, surface irregularly and deeply punctured, remotely at the disk, closely and subfoveolate punctate 

 at the sides, the interstices very minutely punctate, the lateral margins more or less distinctly angulate 

 behind the middle, brownish seneous, the extreme lateral margins metallic green ; scutellum subrotundate, 

 smooth ; elytra with the following striae of deeply impressed punctures — a very short sutural one below 

 the scutellum, the three following rows consisting of double punctures anteriorly, but arranged in single 

 punctured striae behind the middle, the rest of the sides much closer and more irregularly punctured, all 

 the interstices towards the apex longitudinally and distinctly costate, the apex of the costae joined ; under- 

 side piceous ; legs fulvous, extreme apex of the tibiae and the tarsi piceous ; the latter much dilated in 

 the male. 



Hab. Mexico, Cosamalcapam, Santecomapan (Salle) ; Guatemala, Chacoj, La Tinta, 

 San Juan, Teleman (Champion) ; Beitish Hondueas, river Hondo, river Sarstoon (Blan- 

 caneaux) ; Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion). 



This is without doubt a closely allied form to JR. caliginosus, Lefev., and B. curtus, 

 from which it may be at once distinguished by its smaller size and the fulvous legs 

 and piceous tarsi. I have many specimens before me from the above localities, 

 which show a good deal of variation in the sculpturing of the thorax and the elytra, 

 some being almost regularly punctate-striate anteriorly, while others have the 

 punctures arranged in double lines ; but I do not think that this difference, of which 

 intermediate degrees are not wanting, is sufficient to constitute different species, the 

 constant character (the fulvous legs) not being wanted in any of them ; there are also, 

 in most specimens, indications of costse at the base of the elytra and a slight depression 

 below the latter. Whether the species is identical with one of the above named forms 

 described by M. Lefevre, it is impossible to say without comparing the types. 



