BRACHYACANTHA. 189 



Hab. Noeth Amekica, United States 2 5 , Pennsylvania 1 , Texas 6 . — Mexico 3 4 , Orizaba, 

 Tuxtla, Toxpam (Salle), Cerro de Plumas, Zacualtipan in Hidalgo (Edge) ; Guatemala, 

 Chiacam, Senahu, Sinanja, and San Geronimo in Vera Paz, Duefias (Champion) ; 

 Panama, Bugaba, Volcan de Chiriqui 2500 to 4000 feet (Champion). 



After the inspection of a large number of specimens, and of the types in Crotch's 

 collection, there is no other course open to me than to unite the various names quoted 

 above under one species, while I cannot concur in regarding them as synonymic with 

 B. ursina — the latter being a more oblong insect. 



The females of B. decempustulata have but four yellow spots on each elytron, 

 while in the males there is a small yellow spot on the humeral angle as well ; the 

 males have also the abdomen impressed in the middle from the second segment to 

 the fifth. 



From Hyperaspis jucunda and H jocosa, Muls. (which are similarly marked), the 

 generic character of a sharp tooth on the exterior edge of the anterior tibia? will at once 

 separate it; but it will be observed that the shoulder-spot is always more prolonged 

 down the side in the males of H. jocosa, and that the three large apical spots are more 

 closely packed, the lateral one in the middle being always a little nearer the apex in 

 H. jucunda. 



B. decempustulata varies very much in size. The punctuation, as Leconte has 

 remarked, is deeper and more distinct than in JB. ursina. 



B. bollii, Crotch, appears to me to be nothing but a colour-variety of this insect, and 

 occurs with it at Dallas in Texas. 



Obs. Three exponents of Hyperaspis billoti, Muls., in Crotch's collection, labelled 

 " Philad.," and which are Brachyacantha?, belong to this species ; but they may probably 

 be wrongly identified with Mulsant's insect, which is South American. 



10. Brachyacantha ursina. 



Coccinella ursina, Fabr. Mant. Ins. i. p. 61 (1787) \ 



Brachyacantha ursina, Muls. Spec. Col. Trim, secur. p. 532 2 ; Crotch, Rev. Coccin. p. 211 3 ; Trans. 

 Am. Ent. Soc. iv. p. 378 (partim) 4 . 



Hab. Noeth Amekica 1 3 , United States, from Lake Superior to Texas 4 . — Mexico, 

 Ciudad in Durango (Hoge, Forrer), Ventanas in Durango (Hoge). 



Crotch 4 united B. flavifrons, Muls., B. decempustulata and B. basalis (Melsh.), and 

 B. albifrons (Say) with this species ; but this view is not borne out by his collection, 

 and it seems to have been arrived at rather hastily on the exponents of those species 

 in Leconte's collection. Judging from the specimens of B. decempustulata in Crotch's 

 collection and my own, and also from those from Mexico, I think the insect is distinct 

 from small examples of B. ursina with very small spots, which may be recognized by 

 their more oblong form, more narrowed in front. 



