338 PHYTOPHAGA. 



Like the preceding species, a single specimen only was obtained : it differs, however, 

 sufficiently from any others of the genus to be considered distinct ; the entire colour of 

 the upper and under surface is a dark bronze ; the head is impunctate, the frontal 

 tubercles being elongate and distinct ; the antennae have the third and fourth joints of 

 equal length, the former being obscure fulvous ; the thorax is perfectly square-shaped, 

 obsoletely transversely depressed near the base, this portion being distinctly punctured, 

 the rest of the surface impunctate ; the elytra are of parallel shape, regularly but 

 finely punctate-striate, the base shows no trace of a depression ; except the apices of 

 the posterior femora which are dark aeneous, the legs and tarsi are fulvous. 



37. Systena megasceloides. 



Subcylindrical, parallel ; below, the head, thorax, antennae, and legs fulvous ; elytra metallic green or purplish, 

 punctate-striate. 



Length 1 line. 



Head impunctate; frontal tubercles placed transversely; eyes prominent; antennas half the length of the 

 body, third and fourth joints equal, scarcely longer than the second ; thorax about one half broader than 

 long, the sides rounded at the middle, somewhat constricted at the base ; basilar sulcation very obsolete, 

 minutely punctured, the rest of the surface impunctate ; scutellum fulvous ; elytra narrow, parallel, and 

 subcylindrical, distinctly depressed below the base, closely and distinctly punctate-striate, the punctures 

 here and there somewhat- irregularly placed ; metatarsus of the hind legs as long as the two following 

 joints together. 



Eab. Guatemala, Cerro Zunil (Champion). 



At first sight, this species seems to have little in common with most of its allies, 

 the thorax and general shape of the insect resembling very nearly a species of 

 Megascelis ; it is, however, in my opinion very undesirable to establish a new genus on 

 every slight difference of shape and form, and as long as the structural characters which 

 are peculiar to the genus are present all species ought to be included in which the 

 latter are to be found. This is the case with the insect in question, which is, however, 

 characterized by the very obscure thoracic groove, punctate-striate elytra, and nearly 

 cylindrical shape ; all other characters are absolutely the same as in Systena : a single 

 specimen has the elytra of a purplish hue. 



CLAMOPHOEA. 



Clamophora, Chevrolat in d'Orbigny's Diet. Univ. Hist. Nat. iii. p. 734 (1843) ; Clark, Journ. of 

 Entom. ii. p. 383 (1865). 



The species which are included in this genus are generally of rather large size, and 

 may be known principally by the transverse thorax, the sides of which are rounded to 

 a much greater extent than is usually the case in the allied genera. All the species 

 described till now are South American ; the few from Central America now before me 

 show some structural differences, which may perhaps hereafter be thought of sufficient 

 importance to constitute a new genus, thus — the posterior margin of the thorax is perfectly 



