215 



Sphserius tropicus. 



S. tropicus, Matthews, Biol. Cent.-Amer. Col. ii. pt. i. p. 157, 1888. 



L. c. y'y lin. = 0'63 mm. — Ovatus, validissime convexus, nitidissimus, totus 

 impunctatus, glaberrimus, aterrimus ; capite magno, antice prodiicto ; oculis 

 magiiis, baud piominentibiis ; pronoto parvo, brevi, ad basim latissimo, lateribus 

 fere rectis, margiiie basali fere recta, angulis vix aeiitis ; elijtris capite atque 

 pronoto latioribus at longioribus, prope media latissimis, lateribus late marginatis, 

 modice rotundatis, apice ovato ; pedibus atque autenuis flavis, barum capitnlo 

 orbiculari. 



Body ovate, exceedingly convex, very shining, impunctate throughout, very smooth, 



deep black. 

 Head large, produced in front ; eyes large, not prominent ; antennfe moderate, 



yellow, with the club round. 

 Thorax small and short, widest at the base, sides nearly straight, basal margin 



nearly straight, with the angles subreetangular. 

 Smtellum moderate, triangular. 

 Elytra broader and longer than the head and thorax, widest near the middle, sides 



broadly margined and moderately rounded, apex ovate. 

 Legs moderate, yellow. 

 Under parts wholly piceous. 

 Differs from S. Hispanicufi in its more ovate form, much larger head and smaller 



thorax, yellow legs, and rounded club of its antennae ; and from others in its 



small size, ovate form, yellow legs, and rounded club of its antenna. 

 Habitat, Central America. Found in Guatemala, near the city, by Mr. Champion. 



[Mr. Matthews' own collection, now in my Museum, contains his types of 



all the foregoing species of Sphceriidce, except S. texanus (in the collection of 



Lieut. T. L. Casey) and ,S'. tropicus (in the collection of Messrs. Godman and 

 Salvin).— Ed.] 



