Y/Y 
MESOMPHALIA. 143 
a coarser system of punctuation, and when they are reduced to small spots the punc- 
tuation is much finer. A precisely similar variation is to be found between the 
extreme forms of MV. tristigma. 
We figure a typical male from Vera Cruz; also a female of the var. 3, and a female 
of the var. y, both from Bugaba. 
11. Mesomphalia mellyi. 
Mesomphalia meilyi, Boh. Monogr. Cassid. i. p. 83141, and iv. p. 1517; Cat. Col. Ins. Brit. Mus. ix. 
p. 56°. 
“ Subrotundata, minus convexa, nigra, opaca, pube cinerea parce adspersa; prothorace inequali, subtiliter, 
subremote punctulato, medio tenuiter canaliculato ; elytris dorso foveis magnis, sat crebris, fundo levibus, 
interstitiis angustis, elevatis, nitidis, punctulatis ; singulo elytro vitta lata, laterali, flava, nigro-maculata, 
introrsum sinuata.—Long. 21, lat. 18 millim.” 
Hab. Mexico (coll. Melly '-*). 
Unknown to me. The locality requires confirmation. 
12. Mesomphalia czruleonotata. | 
Mesomphalia ceruleonotata, Boh. Monogr. Cassid. i. p. 876*, and iv. p. 176°; Cat. Col. Ins. Brit. 
Mus. ix. p. 64°. 
“ Rotundata (¢) aut ovata(@), convexa, testacea, subopaca; prothorace subtilissime, crebre punctulato, 
medio linea brevi, longitudinali, cwrulea, lateribus late, sensim rotundato-ampliato ; elytris profunde sat 
crebre punctatis, sutura antice, singulo maculis octo minoribus, inequalibus, viridi-ceruleis; margine 
modice explanato, deflexo.—Long. ¢ 74, lat. 62; long. ? 9, lat. 7 millim.” 
Hab. Mexico (Chevrolat 1—*). 
The only specimen (2?) I have seen of this species is contained in the British 
Museum. 
13. Mesomphalia isthmica. (Tab. VI. figg. 12, ¢,13, 9; 14, 2, var.) 
Rotundate (¢), or ovate (@), rather convex, moderately shining ; testaceous or ferruginous, the prothorax 
sometimes with a narrow neous median vitta extending from the base to the apex; the scutellum 
seneous; the elytra each with from 7 to 9 irregular spots—three placed longitudinally on the disc, equi- 
distant, the anterior one oblique, four on the outer part of the disc, the anterior one occupying the 
humeral callus and sometimes divided into two, the posterior one sometimes obsolete, and one, the largest, 
on the expanded margin about the middle,—and the suture anteriorly, to a greater or less extent, wneous 
or ceruleous ; the antenne black, the four basal joints testaceous beneath; the legs and under surface 
black. Head deeply canaliculate, rugulosely punctured; antenne rather stout, extending a little beyond 
the base of the prothorax, the four basal joints shining, the others opaque. Prothorax twice as broad as 
long, deeply arcuate-emarginate in front, the sides straight or very slightly rounded behind, rapidly and 
obliquely converging from the middle to the apex, the base subtruncate on either side, the median lobe 
obtuse and moderately produced; the disc sparsely, very finely punctate, and with a fine, impressed 
median line (which is sometimes more deeply impressed at the base and apex); the margins dull, almost 
smooth, in some specimens foveate about the middle. Scutellum smooth. Elytra short and strongly 
rounded at the sides (¢), longer and more ovate ( @ ), a little wider than the prothorax at the base, in the 
widest part (¢ ) about one half wider than it, conjointly rounded at the apex ; the disc moderately gibbous 
pefore the middle; the margins ( ¢) broadly, ( 2 ) moderately expanded, deflexed, obliquely converging in 
tt 2 
