African and Asiatic Species of Melyris. 



209 



the basal joint of the intermediate tarsi in that sex. The 

 present species may be known by its shining blue or green 

 upper surface, the rufo-testaceous labium, basal half of 

 antennas, under surface (the meso- and metathoracic 

 episterna wholly or in part excepted*), and legs (the tips 

 of the tarsi excepted) ; the slightly rounded sides of the pro- 

 thorax, which is sulcate down the middle and has a sharp, 

 almost straight lateral carina ; the posteriorly attenuate, 

 sharply tricostate elytra (the outer ridge sometimes abbre- 

 viated posteriorly), with four or five irregular rows of fine 

 punctures in the interspaces; and the very long tarsal claws, 

 which are toothed near the tip. The ^-characters are 

 remarkable. Two examples labelled "Arabia," in the 

 British Museum, with the metasternum metallic, seem to 

 belong here. 



66. Melyris bicalcarata, sp. n. 



Elongate, rather convex, shining ; blue or bluish-green, 

 the under surface and legs (except the tarsal claws in $ 

 and the tarsi wholly in ? , which are infuscate or black), 

 and the basal 4 or 5 joints of the antennas, rufo-testaceous, 

 the outer joints of the latter black; sparsely pubescent, 

 the hairs on the under surface longer, those at the tip 

 of the abdomen very long, fulvous. Head short, coarsely, 



Fiff. 6. 



Fisr. 7. 



Melyris bicalcarata, $: 6, intermediate tarsus ; 7, posterior carsus. 



closely umbilicate-punctate ; antennas short. Prothorax 

 transverse, gradually arcuatcly narrowing from near the 

 base, the hind angles somewhat obtuse, the lateral carina 

 very sharp and feebly sinuate ; rather coarsely, not very 

 closely punctate, sulcate down the middle and fovea! e 

 in the centre at the base. Elytra much wider than the 

 prothorax, long ; sharply tricostate, the interspaces with 

 about four rows of confluent, moderately coarse punctures, 



* Schilsky's var. b, dubia, has the metathoracic episterna rufescent. 



