Avhicb illustrate the male genetalia viewed from the left side. The 

 characters of the female genetalia are less well defined in tin- two 

 species of either group, but those of the two groups are quite distinct 

 in appearance, as is shown by figures 8 and 10, Plate V. representiny 

 one species of each group. 



The species P]n/fahis i)is}tUi)-is conforms with the described eliar- 

 acter separating the genus from Pkyllophaga. This consists in the 

 tooth of the tarsal claw being situated near the end of the claw, and 

 directed at an acute angle instead of at an obtuse or right angle 

 to it. making the claw what is termed "cleft." This character is 

 more or less variable with other species of Phytalus. but holds good 

 in the case of P. insularis and P. smifhi Ar. 



A not worthy fact is that all of the Porto Rican ^Melolonthids, 

 including Phytalus, in common with the species from neighboring 

 islands, possess certain marked characters not ocurring in the spe- 

 cies from the mainland which have been examined. This would seem 

 to set them apart as belonging to another genus. These cliaraeters 

 consist in: (1) the presence, on the inner posterior angle of the 

 femora of the hind pairs of legs, of a longitudinal row of ])romi- 

 nent, stout, rather blunt spines, varying usuall.v from three to five 

 in number, and below each spine a long bristle — where in the species 

 of the continent this angle is 1)are of spines and has few. if any, 

 bristles; (2) the constriction of the transverse, sub-median ridge 

 on the outer face of the back tibiae, which in American continental 

 species is directed downward and bears a prominent row of bristles. 

 or slender spines, into an anterior and a posterior flattened spur, 

 the former bearing from three to five bristles and the latter from 

 one to four bristles; and (S") in the presence, above the posterior 

 flattened spur and less than midway between it and the base of tibia, 

 of another flattened spur, bearing from one to three bristles — which 

 in continental species is indicated, if at all, by no more than a slight 

 elevation above h pil bearing one bristle. Occasionally, in Insular 

 species, there is a third flattened spur above this last, having one 

 to two bristles. 



These chai'acters of the rear tibiae occur in the West Indian 

 species of Pliyfalxs as well as in PhyUophaga, and make it appear 

 that the West Indian species of Phyllophaya are a link between 

 Phyfahis and the Phyllophaga of North America. 



CHARACTERS IN THK (iKNITAIJA. 



It is well known that many species of Phyllophayd of the Anier- 

 icriu continent are practically indistinguishable from external char- 



66 



