Mr. J. S. Baly on new species of Phytophagous Beetles. 201 



This insect is very closely allied to M. dimidistuSj and differs 

 principally from that species in the presence of the black mark 

 on the thorax, and also in having the narrow submarginal line : 

 these characters, although slight, are nevertheless constant in 

 all the specimens I have seen. 



Mastostethus Batesii. PI. V. fig. 8, 



M. oblongus, nitido-fulvus ; antennis extrorsum, ociilis, capitis macu- 

 lis, thoracis maculis septem elytrisque nigris, his macula humerali 

 parva fasciaque transversa ante apicem albis ; tarsis piceis. — Long. 

 5-5^ lin. 



Var. A. Antennis, tibiis tarsisque nigris, thoracis maculis dua- 

 bus anticis obsoletis. 



Head excavated and punctured on either side between the 

 eyes, vertex finely punctured ; shining fulvous, a transverse spot 

 on the clypeus, a longitudinal line between the eyes, and two 

 spots on the hinder part of the vertex black. Antennae com- 

 pressed and much dilated towards the apex; five or six basal 

 joints fulvous, more or less stained above with black, remaining 

 joints entirely black. Thorax nearly three times as broad at the 

 base as long ; sides narrowed from their base to the apex, in- 

 distinctly rounded, obsoletely sinuate at the base, notched at 

 the apex, anterior angles slightly produced obliquely into an 

 obtuse tooth ; above subconvex from side to side, obsoletely im- 

 pressed near the posterior angles ; shining fulvous, a small spot 

 at each angle and three on the disk black. Scutellum broad, 

 triangular, smooth, shining fulvous, its base transversely grooved. 

 Elytra rather broader than the base of the thorax, slightly nar- 

 rowed towards the apex, the latter dehiscent ; above subconvex 

 on the sides, flattened along the back, finely punctured, surface 

 sparingly covered with fine black adpressed hairs ; shining black, 

 the extreme base sometimes fulvous ; a small spot at the humeral 

 angle and a narrow fascia towards their apex white; this latter 

 is somewhat dilated towards the suture, its anterior margin 

 curving slightly upwards. Beneath shining fulvous, sparingly 

 covered with fulvous pubescence ; the apex of the jaws, a patch 

 on the pleurae in front, a spot in the middle of the anterior sur- 

 face of the intermediate thighs, and another at the base of the 

 posterior pair black ; four anterior tarsi pitchy, their medial 

 line fulvous ; apex of posterior claws pitchy. 



Var. A. Antennae (the basal joint beneath excepted), tibiae 

 and tarsi entirely black; face with the following additional 

 markings : one on the labrum and four on either side, one being 

 placed at the base of the antennae, and another at the inner 

 margin of the eyes, which are pale piceous. Thorax with the 

 spots on the anterior angles obsolete; sides beneath with an 



