458 Mr. CuRTis's Descriptions of 



1 believe the sexes vary very considerably in form and size, and the colour can- 

 not be depended upon, as the fresh specimens have a yellowish metallic hue, 

 but the old ones which have been exposed to heat and damp are entirely black ; 

 the legs and antennae exhibit every shade from deep pitchy to ferruginous, and 

 the sculpture is much fainter in some individuals than in others. The minute 

 silvery bristles which arise sparingly from the punctures are not unfrequently 

 absent from age, and the pale outer margin of the elytra formed by these hairs 

 is sometimes rendered ochreous or dirty, from the soil becoming attached to 

 them. I may observe, that in perfect specimens the broad and very short scu- 

 tel is covered with shining pubescence. 



Family Blapsid^. 



' ScoTOBius, Germar. 



This natural group of insects is entirely confined to the southern portions of 

 the New World. It has been divided by Solier into 2 genera, distinguished 

 principally by the form of the palpi ; and Scotobius as it now stands may be 

 arranged under 3 sections: 1. those with granulated ridges; 2. with simple 

 ridges ; 3. without ridges. Of this last section I have not seen an example, 

 and Erichson's .S". planatus is its representative. 



* Elytra with granulated ridges. 



*103. Scotobius pilularius. Germ. p. 135. Annates de la S'oc. Ent. de France, 

 vol. vii. p. 60. pi. 3. f. 6. Gu^. Mag. de Zool. 1 834, pi. 1 10. f. 3. 



From Gorrite, at the entrance of the river La Plata, and at Maldonado, in November, Lieut. 

 Graves. 



*104. Scotobius muricatus, Gu^r. Mag. de Zool. pi. 1 10. f. 1. Solier, ibid. p. 58. 



Scot, elongatus, Klug, ibid. p. 69. var. 



Several were taken at Gorrite and Maldonado in November. 



*105. Scotobius rugulosus, Gu4r. Mag. de Zool. pi. 110. f. 5. 

 I have received it from Chili. 



This appears to be synonymous with Solier's S. Gayi, ibid. p. 62. 



