302 3PHYTOPHAGA. 



l. Syphrea pretiosa. (Tab. XVII. fig. 23.) 



Syphrea pretiosa, Baly, Trans. Ent. Soc. 1876, p. 447 1 . 



Hob. Guatemala? \soll. Salle), Cerro Zunil, Panajachel 4000 to 5000 feet (Champion) ; 

 Costa Eica (van Patten). 



There are some differences to be found between the specimens obtained by Mr. 

 Champion and the type, which is figured. The former are of less dilated shape, smaller, 

 the thorax is more transverse, and the first three joints of the antennae are more or less 

 stained with rufous. All this would perhaps be sufficient for these insects to be looked 

 upon as representing another species ; but as I can see intermediate degrees amongst 

 them, I think it better to consider the species a rather variable one. 



CACOSCELIS. 



Cacoscelis, Chevrolat, in d'Orbig, Diet. univ. Hist. Nat. iii. 1843, p. 13 ; Clark, Journ. of Ent. ii. 

 p. 406. 

 This genus contains species of large size and generally metallic coloration, having a 

 rather flattened appearance. The eyes are small, and the thorax has a generally 

 obsolete transverse groove. The genus is extremely closely allied to Disonycha, from 

 which it can scarcely be otherwise separated than by its larger size, as it agrees even 

 with that genus in the oblique posterior angles of the thorax. The emargination of 

 the hinder tibia? is only sometimes present, but often absent. A few Central-American 

 species only are known, the others are exclusively from the more southern parts of 

 America. 



l. Cacoscelis compta. (Tab. XVII. fig. 18.) 



Cacocelis compta, Erichs. Wiegm. Arch. 1847, i. p. 174 K 

 Hab. Nicaragua, Chontales (Belt, Janson, coll. Salle, Jacoby).— Peru l . 



Although the Nicaraguan specimens before me differ from the Peruvian forms in the 

 entirely fulvous head and the want of the transverse black spot at the thorax, I do not 

 think I err in considering these insects but varieties of Erichson's species. With 

 C. marginata, Fabr., they cannot be confounded on account of the flavous elytral suture, 

 which I have never seen in any of the last-named species, while it is constant in all the 

 Nicaraguan specimens. These latter have also at the sides of the thorax a very small 

 black spot; this and the fulvous vertex of the head is the only difference which I can 

 find between this variety and C. compta. The size of the insect is as variable (from 4 

 to 7 lines) as in the several allied species, but the colour of the elytra is dark violaceous 

 blue. In this and the above other particulars the dozen specimens before me show no 

 variation ; should more material in future show the same constancy, the present form 

 might perhaps then be considered as distinct from 0. compta. 



