54. . PHYTOPHAGA.—SUPPLEMENT. 
apex rounded, very sparingly clothed with yellowish pubescence, closely and strongly punctate-striate, 
the punctures often of transverse shape, the interstices longitudinally (but not strongly) raised ; underside 
fulvous ; the knees, tibiee, and tarsi black ; the posterior femora in the male extending to the apex of the 
abdomen. 
Hab. Mexico, Cordova, Toxpam (Sailé), Oaxaca (Hoge). 
This is one of the largest species of Megascelis; it may be known by the uniform 
dark purplish or bluish colour of the elytra, the fulvous underside without metallic 
gloss, and the black knees, tibie, and tarsi. The scutellum in some specimens is 
metallic green instead of fulvous. The black basal joints of the antenne will further 
assist in the recognition of WM. mexicana. 
The variety (from Cordova) differs only in the colour of the abdomen and legs. 
11. Megascelis sallzi. 
Obscure fulvous ; head and thorax darker fulvous with a purplish gloss, finely rugose ; elytra obscure purplish, 
the shoulders and the sides metallic blue or greenish ; legs testaceous. 
Var. Elytra obscure fulvous with a greenish tint. 
Length 14 line. 
Head rugosely punctured throughout; the epistome not separated by a groove, more strongly punctured ; 
antenne two thirds the length of the body, fuscous, the basal four or five joints testaceous; thorax 
slightly longer than broad, narrowed at the base, with an almost obsolete transverse depression across 
the middle, the surface more strongly rugose-punctate than the head, with a slight indication of a dorsal 
carina, fulvous with a purplish gloss (like that of the head); elytra clothed with very short silvery 
pubescence, opaque, the middle of the dise purplish, the shoulders and sides metallic bluish. 
Hab. Mexico, Playa Vicente, Orizaba (Sailé). 
M. salle is of rather broad and robust shape and of very sombre and dull appearance. 
Some specimens differ from the type in having almost the entire upper surface brownish, 
with a slight metallic green tint. The dorsal carina in most specimens shows a raised 
longitudinal tubercle near the base. The elytra have the interstices longitudinally 
raised, and the spaces between impressed with transversely shaped rugosities; their 
pubescence is very short, in the type whitish, in the varieties more fulvous. The 
underside varies in colour from piceous to testaceous. It is difficult to fix the limit of 
this species; but the dull opaque colour of the upper parts will perhaps best assist in 
the recognition of WM. sallai. 
12. Megascelis robusta. 
Broadly parallel, pale fulvous, the breast obscure greenish ; above obscure metallic green ; head and thorax 
finely rugose, clothed with fulvous pubescence ; elytra transversely punctured, the interstices longitudinally 
costate. 
Length 3 lines. 
Head very finely rugose throughout, with a tubercle between the antenneg; eyes distinctly emarginate ; 
antenne: fuscous, the base of each joint testaceous, the three or four basal joints entirely of that colour ; 
thorax scarcely longer than broad, distinctly widened at the middle, with an obsolete transverse depres- 
sion at the centre of the disc, the surface very finely rugose (like that of the head) and sparingly clothed 
with fulvous pubescence ; scutellum finely punctured ; elytra broad, robust, entirely covered with trans- 
verse rugosities, the interstices longitudinally raised, the colour a dull metallic green obscured by the 
