included in the genus Tropisternus. 103 



strongly elevated carina, the apex of which is liberated 

 so as to form only a very short spine. The unique in- 

 dividual appears to be a female ; at any rate I can detect 

 no trace of a tooth on the claws. 



13. Tropisternus robustus, n. s. 



Niger, superne subviolaceo-tinctus, antennarum basi 

 palpisque testaceis ; subtilius punctatus, pernitidus, 

 elytris versus apicem fere lsevigatis ; elytrorum linea 

 marginali fortiter punctata ; abdominis apice longius 

 spinoso. Long. 12 mm., lat. 7 mm. 



Ecuador (found by Mr. Buckley). 



Var. Femoribus versus apicem rufescentibus, abdo- 

 minis spina paulo minore. (Hab. Cayenne ?; from Doue's 

 collection under the name of Hydvophilus femoratus, 

 Buquet). 



This species is rather more robustly built than its 

 allies, and may be readily identified by the sculpture of 

 the epipleural margin, which is conspicuous along the 

 whole length. I have not detected a tooth, in the few 

 specimens at my disposal, on the claws. The two indi- 

 viduals found by Mr. Buckley have the legs darker than 

 those from the old French collections, and it is possible 

 that ultimately these latter may prove distinct. 



Group 4. Sternal spine very elongate and not in the least 

 flattened, much curved away from the body ; other 

 characters as in Group 3. A single species only is yet 

 knoivn, viz. : — 



14. Hydrophilus latus, Brulle. 



Brulle, Voy. d'Orb., Ins., p. 55, pi. iv., f. 3. 



Monte Video. 



This species is an extremely remarkable one from the 

 large size of its individuals and the greatly developed 

 sternal spine ; thus it can be confounded with none other 

 of the species without cilia on the hind tibiae. I find a 

 variation in the length of the sternal spine, which in 

 certain individuals extends quite as far back as the third 

 ventral suture, while in others it is a little shorter ; I 

 think it possible these latter may be the females. I 

 have not detected any other character- by which I can 



