[ 441 ] 



XXIX. Descriptions, 8fc. of the Insects collected hy Captain P. P. King, R.N., 

 F.R.S. 5r L.S., in the Survey of the Straits of Magellan. By John Curtis, 

 Esq., F.L.S. 8fc.* 



Read May 7th, 1844. 



Order Coleoptera, 

 Family DERMESTiDiE. 

 *66. Dermestes Vulpinus, Fabr. Panz. Faun. Germ. 40. pi. 10. 

 Common at Valparaiso and Gorrite, 



Family Histerid^e. 

 *57. HisTER Mathewsii, Curt. 



Violaceo-ater, capite thoracis margine elytrisque punctiilatis ; nisi in elytro- 



rum disco ubi maculae 2 raagnse ochracese striseque tres basales breves. 

 Length 1| line, breadth 1^. 



Shining violaceous black ; head, abdomen and lateral margins of thorax thickly punctured, 

 a line of punctures at the base of the latter and a few hairs on the sides ; elytra finely 

 punctured, except on the shoulders and disc : a stria on each side of the suture, a curved 

 line of punctures at the base, a very short one beyond it, and 2 longer oblique ones 

 towards the shoulders, the outer one double and the space between them vermiculated, 

 as well as a transverse space near the apex which is smooth ; a very large ochreous 

 orbicular spot on each, not touching the suture or costa, the edges sinuated : anterior 

 tibiae dilated, with 9 or 10 teeth outside, intermediate and hinder with long spines. 



Valparaiso. 



I have named this pretty species after the late Mr. A. Mathews, A.L.S., who 

 sent me specimens from Lima, as well as many other interesting insects which 

 the want of an opportunity has long prevented me from describing. 



* Continued from p. 205, vol. xviii. — Those species with the asterisk attached are in the cabinets of 

 Mr. Curtis. 



3 M 2 



