MESOMPHALIA. 139 
elytra (the spots excepted) more finely punctured and a little less shining; but they are 
connected with the others by intermediate forms. 
4. Mesomphalia lebasi. (Tab. VI. figg. 1, ¢; 2, var. primaria, 2 ; 8, var. 8, 2 .) 
Cyrtonota lebasii, De}. Cat. 3rd edit. p. 369°. 
Mesomphalia lebasii, Boh. Monogr. Cassid. i. p. 2902, and iv. p. 184°; Cat. Col. Ins. Brit. Mus. ix. 
p. 50%. . 
Mesomphalia primaria, Boh. Monogr. Cassid. i. p. 289°, and iv. p. 184°; Cat. Col. Ins. Brit. Mus. 
ix. p. 497. 
This insect is abundant in Mexico and Central America, extending southwards into 
the northern part of the South-American continent. Several well-marked forms occur, — 
all connected by intermediate gradations :— 
a. The elytra each with two transverse or rounded spots placed transversely before the middle; the spots 
subequal in size, or the inner spot smaller than the outer one. (WM. lebasi, Boh.) 
Hab. Mexico5—’, Jalapa and Misantla (Hoge); Guatemata, Cubilguitz, San Juan, 
Purula and Sabo in Vera Paz (Champion) ; Nicaraaua, Chontales (Belt, Janson) ; Costa 
Rica (Sallé, Van Patten), Caché (Rogers) ; Panama, Chiriqui (Ribbe), Bugaba, Volcan 
de Chiriqui, Caldera, David, Tolé (Champion).—Cotomsia 24, Carthagena 1. 
B. The elytral spots larger; the inner spot oblong and often much larger than the outer one, the latter trans- 
verse. (M. primaria, Boh.) (Fig. 2.) 
Hab. Mexico, Santecomapan, Toxpam (Sallé), Cordova (Sallé, Hoge), Misantla (Hoge) ; 
GuaTEMALA, Cubilguitz in Vera Paz. 
y- The elytral spots coalescent on each elytron. 
Hab. Mexico, Cordova and Misantla (Hége). 
3. The inner spot on each elytron obsolete, the other usually small or minute. (WM. lebasi, Boh., var.a: Guate- 
mala.) (Fig. 3.) 
Hab. Guatemata °, El Tumbador, Cerro Zunil, Panajachel, Zapote, Duefias, Escuintla, 
Guatemala city, San Gerénimo (Champion); Nicaragua, Chontales (Janson). 
The form « (I. lebasi) is more southern in its distribution than the form 6 (JL. pri- 
maria). The form 8 is peculiar to Guatemala and Nicaragua; in Guatemala it is 
confined to the central plateau and the Pacific slope. The forms 6 and y are confined 
to the Atlantic slope, and in Mexico and Guatemala the form @ has a similar distri- 
bution, the first two being almost peculiar to the Mexican State of Vera Cruz. 
These three forms all occur at Misantla. From Jalapa we have received a specimen of 
the form « with the inner spot almost obliterated on one elytron. The form y closely 
resembles some of the varieties of Wf. salvini, from which it may be known by the 
anterior margin of the prothorax not being bordered with testaceous. We figure a 
