170 PHYTOPHAGA. 



Metachroma these joints are quite or nearly equal; moreover the genus Bhyparida 

 seems to he entirely restricted to the Old World. In the shape of the species of 

 Metachroma much variation seems to exist, which is very striking, as will be seen by 

 comparing If. quercata, Fab., with those described here ; but the presence of the typical 

 characters forbid the erection of a new genus for them. 



1. Metachroma variabilis. (Tab. IX. fig. 7.) 



Oblong, convex ; piceous or fulvous ; head and thorax impunctate ; elytra depressed below the base, deeply 

 punctate-striate, their apex nearly impunctate. 



Yar. a. Above piceous, the elytral margins fulvous. 



Yar. b. Entirely piceous. 



Length 2-2J lines. 



Front of the head swollen, impunctate, except at the extreme base, shining ; clypeus square-shaped, distinctly 

 separated from the face by a transverse groove, closely and finely punctured, its anterior margin deeply 

 eoncave and bidentate ; labrum fulvous, jaws black ; antennae half the length of the body, fulvous, the 

 seventh and the terminal joint piceous ; thorax about one half broader than long, the sides much rounded 

 and constricted at the base and apex, anterior angles mucronate, surface nearly impunctate or extremely 

 finely punctured only when seen under a strong lens ; scutellum broader than long ; elytra very deeply 

 and regularly punctate-striate, the first five rows (not counting the short sutural one) placed at regular 

 -distances from each other, the following rows much more closely approached, the apical region almost 

 entirely impunctate, and the suture accompanied by a deeply impressed line ; underside piceous ; legs 

 fulvous, the last two pairs of tibiae deeply notched near the apex. 



Hab. Bkitish Honduras, river Hondo (Blancaneaux) ; Guatemala, Zapote, Duefias, 

 La Tinta, Capetillo, Mirandilla, Pantaleon {Champion). 



The colour of this species is very variable, either fulvous or piceous predominating. 

 The figured specimen from Zapote is of an intermediate character, the fulvous elytra 

 being spotted near the base with black. Numerous specimens were obtained in 

 Tarious parts of Guatemala. 



2. Metachroma regularis. 



Oblong, obscure piceous ; above dark fulvous ; last seven joints of the antennae black ; thorax extremely finely 

 punctured ; elytra regularly punctate-striate. 



Length 3 lines. 



Head with a few fine punctures at the vertex ; eyes very prominent, black ; clypeus square-shaped, its lower 

 margin deeply concave, surface finely rugose-punctate ; antennae slender, more than half the length of the 

 body, the first four joints fulvous, the rest black ; thorax of the same shape as in M. variabilis, the sides still 

 more rounded, with a narrow reflexed margin, surface closely and very finely punctured ; elytra with about 

 ten rows of deeply and regularly punctured striae, the interstices smooth and shining, the punctures 

 distinct to the apex, but much finer ; underside obscure piceous, the abdominal segments generally fulvous 

 ;at their apex ; hinder tibiae deeply notched. 



Hab. Mexico, Playa Vicente {Edge). 



The larger size and finely punctured thorax, as well as the punctuation of the elytra, 

 which is visible to the apex, separate this species from the preceding one. The upper- 

 side is generally of a shining fulvous colour ; but the elytra in two specimens have a 

 broad piceous patch. About a dozen specimens were obtained by Herr Hoge. 



