TAPHBS. PYR0PTERU3. 63 



angles nearly touching the sides of the thorax. Elytra having a 

 velvety appearance ; each interstice with two rows of large punctures, 

 the rows not separated from each other by any distinct costa. 



c? . Antennae with long pubescence ; penultimate segment of 

 abdomen triangularly emarginate. 



2 ' Antennae without long pubescence ; abdomen simple. 



Taphes frontalis. 



(Plate XV. fig. 4.) 



Waterh., Trans. Ent. Soc, 1878, p. 111. 



Ater, opacus ; thorace tomentoso, transverso, obsolete quinque- 

 areolato ; elytris opacis, rubris, postice latioribus, quadricostatis, ia- 

 terstitiis biseriatim foveato-punctatis. Long. 3| lin. 



Hah. Sumatra {Buxton). 



With a velvety appearance above. Antennae of the male fringed 

 with long fine hair. Forehead between the antennae rather acutely 

 prominent, as in Platycis minutus, F., but more acutely. Thorax 

 small, strongly transverse, a little narrowed in front ; the sides 

 straight ; deeply impressed above on each side ; with a lozenge-shaped 

 mesial areolet, which is less broad than in the preceding species. 

 Elytra deep dull red, rather broad, especially posteriorly ; the iuter- 

 stices with double rows of rather ii-regular quadrate punctures. 



This species is very close to T. brevicoUis, but the forehead is 

 more acutely prominent, the joints of the antennae are more 

 elongate, and the elytra of a much deeper red. 



PYROPTERUS. 



Mulsant, Ann. Soc. Agr. Lyon, 1838, i. p. 81. 



Pyropterus sculpturatus. 



(Plate XV. fig. 8.) 

 Waterh., Trans. Ent. Soc, 1878, p. 112. 



Nigro-piceus, opacus, subpubescens ; antennis crassis ; thorace 

 parvo, antice angustiori, quinqueareolato ; elytris rubris, quadricos- 

 tatis, costis validis, interstitiis carinis validis transversis numerosis. 



Long. 3| lin. 



Hah. Sarawak. 



Resembles Pyropterus affinis, Payk., but is relatively shorter, the 

 sculpture is much stronger, and the elytra are deeper red. Antennae 

 very stout, the second and third joints small and transverse. Thorax 

 smaller than in P. affinis, the margins more thickened, the elevated 

 lines on the thorax more pronounced, and the mesial lozenge-shaped 

 areolet is much broader. Elytra relatively shorter than in P. affinis ; 

 the sculpture is similar, but the costae are much more strong, espe- 

 cially the transverse ones, which are also very regular. 



