124 PHYTOPHAGA.—SUPPLEMENT. 
SCOLOCHRUS (p. 58). 
If the diagnoses of the genera Scolochrus and Metallactus are compared it will be - 
seen, as their author states, that no differences of importance exist, although they differ 
slightly in the form of the prosternum &c. In my opinion it matters not whether the 
two genera in question are maintained or united into one, as it will always be necessary 
to compare Suffrian’s descriptions of the numerous species of either genus (and indeed 
of Pachybrachys also) when the determination of any is in question: for the present I 
have placed all those from our region in Scolochrus. The separation of these into species 
is frequently very difficult and doubtful, owing to the great variability they are subject to; 
I have, however, been enabled to compare them with many of Suffrian’s types contained 
in the British Museum. | 
We have now to add no Jess than eighteen additional species to our list, fifteen of 
which are described as new, the majority of these latter being from the State of Panama. 
Scolochrus purpurascens (p. 58). 
To the localities given, add :—Mexico, Acapulco in Guerrero (Hége), Juquila (Sad/é) ; 
Costa Rica, Cache (Rogers); Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion). 
Var. a. Entirely dark purplish. 
Var. b. Elytra flavous. 
S. purpurascens apparently varies as much in colour and punctuation as S. albilabris, 
and it is difficult to find two exactly similar specimens. The former is chiefly distin- 
guished by the thorax being rather suddenly narrowed in front, and having a purplish 
and very finely punctured surface. In the Mexican specimens the black transverse 
band of the elytra extends upwards along the suture to a greater or less degree; in 
those from Panama, however, the band is regular in shape and the suture remains of 
the red ground-colour. The legs vary from red to black, and the punctuation of the 
elytra is also very variable, so that almost every specimen might be treated as a distinct 
species, if too much importance is attached to these variations. The sides of the thorax 
are often reddish in colour and clothed with hairs; these latter are sometimes entirely 
absent. Specimens also occur in which the red colour of the elytra is replaced by 
violaceous or purplish (var. a), or even by yellow (var. 6). The varieties were all 
obtained in Chiriqui in company with normally-coloured forms, 
Scolochrus albilabris (p. 59). 
To the localities given, add:—Mexico, Acapulco and Chilpancingo in Guerrero, 
Tacambaro and Huetamo in Michoacan, Tupataro in Guanajuato (Hége), Rincon, Dos 
Arroyos, and Amula in Guerrero (H. H. Smith); Nicaragua, Chontales (Belt). 
The two specimens obtained by Herr Hége at Tupataro must, no doubt, be included 
