142 PHYTOPHAGA. 
I have seen altogether sixteen specimens of this species. The very large, transverse, 
more or less emarginate, flavous patch on each elytron is sometimes partly, or entirely 
(as in one specimen from Costa Rica), divided in the middle; it is sometimes marked 
with one or more small zneous spots (there are three in the type), but these disappear 
altogether in some examples. The anterior margin of the prothorax is narrowly 
fulvous on either side, a character separating UV. salvinit from many of the allied forms. 
We figure the type of the male from Panama, and a variety of the female from 
Costa Rica. 
10. Mesomphalia pictilis. (Tab. VI. figg. 9, ¢; 10, 11,2, vars.) 
Mesomphalia pictilis, Boh. Monogr. Cassid. i. p. 8771, and iv. p. 176°; Cat. Col. Ins. Brit. Mus. 
ix. p. 64°, 
Hab. Mexico 1-? (coll. Baly; Mus. Brit.), Vera Cruz (Sallé).—Cotomsta 1~*. 
I have seen five specimens of the typical form of this species, all from Mexico—two 
males in the Sallé collection, a female in the Baly collection, and a pair in the 
British Museum. The description of Boheman! was taken from the male sex only ; 
the female is ovate, and much more elongate, with less expanded elytral margins, the 
male being rotundate, with the margins of the elytra broadly expanded, and abruptly 
and obliquely converging at the base. The following seem to be nothing more than 
varieties of the same species, though they all have the elytra much more finely 
punctured :— 
a. ¢&. The elytra more finely punctured than in the type; similarly marked, 7. ¢. with a very large irregular 
sanguineous patch on the disc, extending on to the broadly expanded margins before and behind the 
middle, and enclosing five eneous spots on the disc, placed longitudinally 3, 2, the anterior one of the 
inner row oblique and larger than the others; the suture eneous throughout. 
Hab. Costa Rica (Van Patten). One specimen. 
- B. Q. The elytra punctured as in a; the markings still larger, occupying the greater part of the surface, leaving 
only the suture, a common X-shaped mark before the middle, two small obliquely-placed spots on the disc 
beyond the middle, three lateral patches, and the exterior limb, eneous. (Fig. 10.) 
Hab. Panama, Bugaba (Champion). One specimen. 
y- 2. The elytra punctured as ina; each with two rufous spots placed transversely before the middle—the 
_inner one on the middle of the disc, subtriangular or oblique, and in some specimens extending angularly 
forwards, the outer one rounded externally, partly on the expanded margin,—and a similarly-coloured 
slightly oblique spot on the outer part of the disc towards the apex, and sometimes with a small rufous 
streak midway between the two discal spots. (Fig. 11.) 
Hab. Nicaraeva, Chontales (Janson) ; Panama, Bugaba, Volcan de Chiriqui ( Cham- 
pion). Five specimens. . 
The var. y looks perfectly distinct, at first sight, but the difference is more apparent 
than real. The red markings, as in Mf. punicea and WM. tristigma, are accompanied by 
