Mr. J. 8. Billy on the Eumolpidie. 25 



deference therefore to his opinion, I have placed it for the present 

 amongst the Eamolpidce, although it is so closely connected in other 

 respects with the true Chrysomelidm as almost to form a link be- 

 tween the two groups. In addition to the general form of the body, 

 the structure of the sternum, and above all, the simple claw (common 

 to the great majority of Cht-ysomelidce, but wanting, with this soli- 

 tary exception, in the Eumolpidce), there is yet another important 

 differential character, hitherto overlooked, uniting it to the Chry- 

 somelidce, and which, I believe, will become extremely useful in 

 separating the two famiKes, — I mean the form of the antero-lateral 

 plate of the antepectus; this part, in all the Clirysomelidce that I have 

 as yet examined, is short and transverse, its hinder margin being 

 entire, and not dilated posteriorly ; in the Eumolpidce (the present 

 genus and Podontia excepted) the same organ is more or less trigo- 

 nate or trapezoid, its posterior edge being produced backwards into 

 an oblong or angular process. This process varies much in shape, 

 and might often, I think, be made available in determining the 

 limits of some of the genera in this difficult group of insects. 



The simple claw at once divides /SjJi'7oj9yra from Podontia, the only 

 genus with which it can be confounded. 



Spilopyra sumptuosa. (Plate I. fig. 3, 3* lateral view.) 



S. oblonga, convexa, dorso gibbosa, nitido-metallico-purpurea, violaceo- 

 micans; antennis nigris, basi obscure fulvis; pedibus riifis, femorum 

 tibiavumque apice tarsisque viridi-seneis ; clypeo, thoracis basi et apice, 

 scutello elytronimque maculis duabus basalibus, fascia impressa ante 

 medium, altera brevi, vix pone medimn, ad marginem exteriorem ad- 

 fixa, vitta obliqua apiceni versus lineaque suturali, antice abbreviata, 

 viridi-igneis, rufo-aureo-marginatis. — Long. 5-6 lin. 



Oblong, slightly narrowed towards the apex, convex,, elytra gibbose 

 at their base ; shining metallic purple, with a violaceous reflexion ; the 

 clypeus, the base and apex of the thorax, and the scutellum, together 

 with some markings on the elytra, bright metallic green, naiTowly 

 margined with rufo-aureous. Head excavated and coarsely pimctured 

 between the eyes, front impressed with an oblong fovea, jaws and 

 antennfe black ; six basal joints of these latter, together with the 

 labrum and palpi, obscvu-e fidvous ; lower half of face bright metallic 

 green. Thorax more than one-half broader than long, slightly nar- 

 rowed from base to apex, apical border concave ; sides nearly straight, 

 obliquely narrowed near the anterior angles, the latter produced, their 

 apex obtuse ; above transversely convex, remotely punctm-ed, punctures 

 more crowded at the base and sides ; the base and apex, together with 

 the extreme lateral borders, bright metallic green. Sciitellum smooth 

 and shining, subtrigonate, its apex roimded. Elytra broader at the 



