\12 [October, 



distinct tooth ; the basal portion of the elytra is brownish, but the apex is black, 

 the black colour occupying nearly the half, the scutellum is also black, and the suture 

 is very narrowly blackish. The under-side is black, with the middle and the hind 

 angles of the thorax tawny, and the trochanters and extreme base of the femora 

 are also of that colour : the last ventral segment is produced into a sharp tooth in 

 the middle. 



This species is closely allied to Smilicerus Sallei, Cand., but lias 

 the black colour at the extremity of the elytra more extensive, and 

 differs also in other small respects, so that I had no doubt when com- 

 paring it with the type of S. Sallei in Mr. Janson's collection, that 

 the two were distinct. 



Found at Chontales, in Nicaragua, by Mr. Belt. 



Tesserocerus Belti, n. sp. 



Sub -cylindr iocs, ferrugineus, sat nitidus, ihorace parcissime punc- 

 tate* ; elytris seriatim punctatis, interstitio tertio basi latiore, confertim 

 granulato. 



Mas, vertice dense villoso, scapi antennarum processu funiculi 

 insertationem valde superante, a basi ad apicem dense longeque villoso. 

 Long. 11 mm. 



Pern., vertice parcius villoso, scapi antennarum processu funiculi 

 insertationem longe superante, a basi ad apicem longe sat dense villoso. 

 Long. 10 mm. 



S . Antenna? inserted on a long curved process, somewhat below its middle, this 

 process is not clavate towards the extremity, but is very densely fringed with long 

 pale hairs ; the whole of the upper part of the head is also very densely set with 

 such hairs. The thorax has, in the base in front of the middle, a patch of strigose 

 punctures divided into two by a fine channel ; the apex of the elytra has, in front 

 of the vertical portion, a small tubercle on the alternate intervals, the vertical por- 

 tion is densely set with hairs, and its margin simple. 



? . Antenna? inserted as in the male, but the process not quite so long, and its 

 fringe not nearly so dense : the upper part of the head has only a few hairs ; the 

 patch of strigose punctures on the thorax is quite rudimentary. The elytra are 

 rather shorter and rather broader at the apex, the sutural tubercles are separated by 

 a wide depression, the vertical apex is less densely pubescent, and its margin is at 

 the apex broadly explanate. 



This remarkable member of the Platypides was found at Chontales 

 by Mr. Belt, after whom I have the pleasure of naming it. It is one 

 of the largest species of the family, and should be placed at the end 

 of the genus near Tesserocerus Spinolce and insignis, but should 

 apparently form a distinct section, because the female, as well as the 

 male, has the process of the scape much prolonged beyond the point 

 of insertion. 



Thornhili, Dumfries : 



August llth, 1880. 



