MEGASCELIS. 538 
(which in M. stratiotica is described as being finely transversely wrinkled and without 
punctures) is very distinctly and closely punctate ; and the two longitudinal depressions 
on the elytra are rather distinct in the male, the one along the suture being bounded 
outwardly by a perceptible elevation of the third elytral costa. In two female specimens 
obtained at Cubilguitz the whole underside is metallic green; these specimens are 
larger, but do not seem to differ in any other way. J. spinipes is no doubt closely 
allied to M. stratiotica, but I cannot identify it with that species on account of the 
above-mentioned differences. 
9. Megascelis curta. 
Subdepressed, slightly widened posteriorly, below obscure greenish-sneous or piceous, above bright green, the 
first four joints of the antenne and the legs testaceous; head and thorax rugosely punctured; elytra 
transversely punctate. 
Var. The legs more or less metallic green. 
Length 13-1 line. 
Head closely rugose-punctate ; the eyes broadly but feebly notched; epistome separated from the face by a 
triangular not very distinct groove, metallic green, very shining, deeply but not very closely punctured ; 
palpi pale fulvous, the apical joint fuscous ; antennz about two thirds the length of the body, fuscous, 
the lower four joints testaceous ; thorax scarcely longer than broad, slightly widened at the middle, with 
an indistinct transverse depression at the sides, the surface closely and deeply punctured, without 
longitudinal ridge, and very sparingly clothed with short silvery hairs; scutellum subquadrate; elytra 
more or less distinctly widened posteriorly, impressed throughout with transversely-shaped punctures, the 
interspaces scarcely raised, and sparsely clothed with short silvery hairs; underside dark greenish- 
piceous, more or less metallic, the abdomen paler and densely covered with silvery pubescence; legs 
testaceous or more or less metallic green. 
Hab. Mexico, Cerro de Plumas (Hége), Juquila (Salié). 
M. curta is comparatively easy to recognize amongst its numerous congeners if the 
following details are considered :—lIn its general shape (instead of being narrow and 
parallel as is usually the case) it is slightly widened behind ; the colour of the upper 
surface is a uniform bright green, without any tint of fulvous or testaceous, and not 
obscured by a fine pale pubescence ; the underside is obscure piceous with a metallic 
gloss; and the eyesare largely (not triangularly) notched. MM. curta seems to be closely 
allied to WM. smaragdula, from which it differs in the coarsely punctured epistome, and 
the colour of the underside. 
10. Megascelis mexicana. (Tab. XXXVI. fig. 4.) 
Fulvous; the antenne (the apical joints excepted), knees, tibie, and tarsi black; thorax subquadrate, 
rugosely punctured ; elytra purplish or bluish, finely pubescent, strongly punctured, the interstices longitu- 
dinally costate. 
Var, The abdomen and legs entirely black. 
Length 3-4 lines. 
Head rugosely punctured, fulvous; the space below the insertion of the antenne rather deeply excavated on 
each side and very strongly rugose; the mandibles and the terminal joint of the palpi fuscous; eyes 
broadly but not deeply notched ; antennz about half the length of the body, black, the apical two joints 
more or less distinctly testaceous ; thorax not longer than broad, slightly constricted at the base, fulvous, 
closely punctured at the sides and at the base, more sparingly so on the middle of the disc, the latter 
very sparsely pubescent; scutellum truncate at the apex, finely punctured, fulvous; elytra depressed, the 
