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XIV. On the Biiprestidae from. MadiKjascar. 

 By Chas. 0. Waterhouse. 



[Read Ortober (iih, IssO.] 



Eecently M. James Thomson lias published* a paper on 

 the Buprestiche from Madagascar usually included in the 

 genus Psiloptera. He distributes the species known to 

 him under eighteen subgenera, sixteen of which are new. 

 Whether this is a desirable step or not is a matter of 

 opinion, but for my own part I think it is to be regretted. 

 In this paper I have placed the species under these 

 various genera so far as is practicable, but not in the 

 order given by M. Thomson, as he appears to have over- 

 looked the relationship of the species with those from 

 Africa. I think that there can be no doubly that what- 

 ever arrangement may be adopted for the Madagascar 

 species, Psilojytera albosparsa, Fairm., should be placed 

 in proximity to the African species ; Psiloptera sternalis, 

 Fairm., Alampetis soror, Thomson, following then in 

 natural order. Psiloptera analis, Chev., is placed by 

 M. Thomson under his genus Cornelia with propijga, 

 Coq., with which it has little in common, and is separated 

 by the genus Pycnohothris, Th. (with fifteen species), from 

 Cassidahotlms colliciata, Gory, to which it is undoubtedly 

 most nearly allied, 



Pycnohothris, Th., and Coccinellopsis, Th., must not 

 be separated by Cassidahothris, Th. ; in fact, Coccinellopsis 

 auropicta, Gory, and C. mystica, Th., are closely allied 

 to Pycnohothris suhsilphoidcs, Th., P. nificauda, Th., &c., 

 agreeing both in general coloration and in having the 

 IJrosternal process densely punctured and pilose in the 

 males and smooth (or only sparingly punctured) in the 

 females. 



The new species described in this paper were chiefly 

 collected by the Eev. W. Deans Cowan in the neighbour- 

 hood of Fianarantsoa ; some by the Eev. C. Shaw, 

 chiefly in the Ankafina Forest, N.E. of Fianarantsoa; a 

 few were obtained by Mr. Kingdon east of Antananarivo ; 



* Eev. et Mag. de Zool., l^sTH. 

 TKANS. ENT. SOC. 1880. — FART IV. (DEC.) 



