86 EE0TYLID2E. 



2. .ffigithus cardinalis. (Tab. IV. fig. 23.) 



jEgithus cardinalis, Chevr. Col. Mex. Cent. i. fasc. 4, no. 5 (1834) 1 ; Lac. Monogr. Erotyl. p. 284 a ; 

 Crotch, Cist. Ent. i. pp. 146, 492. 



Hab. Mexico, Orizaba 1 , Toxpam, Teapa, Parada, Jalapa (H'dge); Guatemala, Cubil- 

 guitz, Sabo, Tactic, Totonicapam (Champion). 



Var. Minor (long. 9-10 millim.), testaceus. 



Hab. Mexico, Jalapa (H'dge). 



I cannot agree with Crotch in thinking that JE. rufipennis, Chevr., and JE. meri- 

 dionalis, Crotch, can possibly be forms of JE. cardinalis: they are accordingly here 

 kept distinct; a third species, which has been confounded with JE. cardinalis, is 

 described below, as there are abundant distinctions, and they occur in different 

 districts. 



Mr. Champion's capture of JE. cardinalis in Guatemala is an interesting discovery. 

 There are no specimens other than Mexican in Crotch's collection or my own. The 

 small variety found by Hoge at Jalapa is peculiar on account of its uniformly small 

 size : there were about a dozen, specimens all alike. Mere colour variety, such as the 

 var. a, noticed by Lacordaire, is of no importance, and occurs in all the red and dark 

 yellow species of Erotylidee. 



Of this insect we have a large series of specimens. 



The prosternum is somewhat compressed in the middle, but is not acuminate in 

 front ; the antennal orbit has its margin flattened above, with a small oblong puncture 

 and striola joining the ocular canthus. 



3. .ffigithiis politus. 



Oblongo-ovatus, antice posticeque acuminatus, elytris valde convexis, subcordiformibus, gibbosis; niger, 

 nitidissimus ; capite, prothorace elytrisque rufo-flavis, glabris. Long. 12-13 millim. 



Hab. Nicaeagua, Chontales (Janson, Belt); Costa Rica (Van Patten); Panama, 

 Bugaba (Champion), Volcan de Chiriqui (Eibbe). 



Of the same form as JE. cardinalis, but more convex ; the elytra more produced and 

 more depressed towards their apex, and hence more gibbous when viewed laterally. 

 Although this species so far resembles JE. cardinalis as easily to be confused with it, it 

 may readily be distinguished by the total absence of any black discoidal mark on the 

 thorax. It also differs structurally, the prosternum being produced into an acuminate 

 point in the middle of its front margin. In colour JE. politus is usually of a more 

 yellow- than blood-red ; and the elytra, perhaps from their greater convexity, have a 

 more polished look than those of either JE. cardinalis or JE. meridionalis. 



