BÜPEBSTID GENUS ASTRAEUS. 83 



the species into groups. The great similarity in sculpture, color 

 and position of the spots, and the absence of well defined peculi- 

 arities, make the arrangement of the greater part of the species 

 a very puzzling task , and I have had a good deal of trouble , before 

 obtaining a somewhat satisfactory tabulation. I have divided the ma- 

 terial into two principal groups, which I shall indicate as «Astraci 

 aberrantes» and « A s t r a e i veri»; the former contains only four 

 species, whilst the latter includes all the remainder. In the group 

 of the «Astraei veri» I have included all the species presenting 

 the typical shape of Astraeus, having the lop of the elytra strongly 

 diverging and ending in a strong sharp point , and also provided 

 with a strong lateral tooth; the elytral sculpture of all the species 

 consists in sharp ridges. The group of the « Astraci aberrantes » 

 has the elytra hardly diverging, ending in short, i-ather blunt 

 apical- points , moreover there is hardly any lateral emargination 

 and consequently no, or, as in one case, only a short lateral tooth ; 

 the elyti'a are punctate-striate with the interstices punctured or 

 transversely rugose. This group might be split into two divisions, 

 each containing two species. The species of the first division bear 

 a strong resemblance with some Buprestis (/hwj/ loc /w ira) -species 

 and chiefly the new Astraeus lineatus could be easily mistaken for 

 the American Bujirestis lineata F. The species of the second division 

 are more different in outline, as well from the first division as 

 from the Astraei veri; they are heavy-bodied , parallel-sided and not 

 much narrowed anteriorly and posteriorly , wanting the characteristic 

 slender shape of the more typical Astraei. However , these two 

 species are exactly the connecting links between the first division 

 of the aberrant Astraei on one side and the true Astraei on the 

 other side, one of the species having no trace of a lateral tooth, 

 whilst the other presents a distinct one. 



Synopsis of Species. 



I. Apices of elytra slightly diverging, without 

 or with a short lateral tooth. Elytra 

 punctate-striate: Astraei aberrantes. 



