286 ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES 



base, and a very obvious ochreous spot on the middle, in the 

 form of a V, the angle pointing towards the base : beneath black- 

 ish-piceous : feet and lateral margin of the pectus, rufous. 



Length more than three-twentieths of an inch. 



This species was sent me by Dr. J. F. Melsheimer, who re- 

 marked, that " it resembles the European Nitidida undvlata 

 very much, but diflfers in having the undula or lunule nearer to 

 the apex of the elytra." With that species I am entirely unac- 

 quainted. 



3. N. UNDULATA. — Yellowish-fulvous, varied with fuscous ; 

 an undulated, common immaculate space behind the middle of 

 the elytra. 



Nitidida undulata Melsh. Catal. 



Body above fulvous, more or less tinged with yellowish : head 

 varied with fuscous, sometimes nearly all fuscous, with the ex- 

 csption of the anterior portion, [180] and the antennae : thorax 

 literate with fuscous, the broad lateral margins immaculate with 

 the exception of a single spot on the middle : elytra irregularly 

 marked with small fuscous spots ; a lai'ge, common, transverse, 

 undulated, immaculate space behind the middle : slightly striated ; 

 strias not obviously punctured, but furnished with very short, 

 recurved hairs ; exterior margin immaculate : beneath rufous : 

 feet and tail paler. 



Length about one-fifth of an inch. 



The Euroj^ean analogue of this insect is certainly the N'. varia 

 Fabr., but the spots of the elytra of that insect seem to be more 

 distinctly arranged in abbreviated longitudinal lines, and the 

 common immaculate space of the elytra appears to be less ob- 

 vious, and less acutely undulated. I know of no species in this 

 country, for which it can be readily mistaken. It may possi- 

 bly prove to be a variety of varia. 



[Belongs to Prometopia Er. — Leg.] 



4. N. RUFA. — Dull rufous, immaculate; elytra somewhat trun- 

 cated at tip. 



Nitidida rufa Melsh. Catal. 



Body obscure rufous, with the margin a little paler : thorax 

 with the lateral edge a little curved inwards, so that the greatest 

 breadth is anterior to the posterior angles : elytra destitute of 



[Vol. v. 



