COLEOPTERA 475 



Group 1. Thorax distinctly transverse, laterally explanate, and with lateral 

 margins not at all sinuate before the hind-angles. Male pygidium with a definite but 

 shallow notch, and the angles forming short teeth (PI. XIV. fig. ri 1^). Species i — 6. 



Group 2. Thorax usually distinctly transverse, its lateral margins not at all 

 sinuate. In all cases where the male is known, the pygidium is not notched, at most 

 very shallowly emarginate, with very blunt rounded apical angles (PI. XIV. fig. 8a). 

 Species' 7 — 15. 



Group 3. A number of forms which cannot well be placed in the other groups. 

 Thorax very variable in form, but usually longer in proportion to its breadth than in 

 Groups A and B. Its sides not sinuate. Male pygidium (except in no. 19, N. testaceipcs) 

 with a definite notch, the angles usually forming sharp teeth (PI. XIV. fig. 14/^). 

 Species 16 — 25. 



Group 4. Thorax much longer, often almost as long as broad : its lateral margins 

 in varying degree sinuate before the hind angles, which are definite, not blunted. Male 

 pygidium (except in no. 32, AL atcr) with conspicuous notch and the angles forming 

 sharp teeth. Species 26 — 32. 



Group 1. 



(i) Nesopcplns inauratus. Sharp. 



Brachypcphis inauratus Sharp, Tr. ent. Soc. London, 1881, p. 508, 



Brachypeplus affiuis Sharp, op. cit. p. 509. 



This is an extremely variable species. Coloration goes for nothing in- it, as it 

 varies from nearly entirely black, to being nearly completely yellow-red ; and the forms 

 with spots and marks are very numerous. The male usually has the thorax a little 

 broader and more densely punctured than the female, but this sexual character is like- 

 wise variable, and there is also a good deal of variation in the thoracic punctuation of 

 the female. 



The species seems to be abundant in Hawaii, from which island we have a series 

 of about 380 specimens. The insect being so protean I am unable to distinguish 

 A^. affiiiis even as a definite variety. 



From Nesopetimts celatus and A^. scottianus the Nesopephts inauratus may always 

 be distinguished by the prosternal process, which is very small, and is bent upwards 

 immediately behind the front coxae, so that it appears not at all to extend backwards. 



Plate XIV. fig. II a shows the male terminal segment. The pygidium (PL XIV. 

 fig. 1 1 b) has a shallow notch and the angles projecting as short teeth ; last ventral 

 segment with the apical angles slightly projecting (fig. 1 1 r), as in so many species 

 of the genus. Supplementary segment somewhat rounded. Female pygidium short, 

 slightly rounded at apex. 



