^86 RUTELINJE. 



$ . The pronotum is more convex and rounded, and its hind 

 .angles are obtuse. The front tibia has a long curved apical tooth 

 and a minute upper one. 



Length, 9-10'5 mm.; breadth, 5-5-7 mm. 



CEYLON : Maskeliya (E. E. Green, May), Dikoya, 3800-4200 ft. 

 {G. Lewis, Dec., Jan.), Diyatalawa (E'. E. Green, Sept.), Lindula 

 (H. B. Wyse), Haldumulla (Col. J. W. Yerbury, June), Colombo 

 (R. P. Green, Nov.), Hambantota (If. P. G., Sept.). 



Type in the British Museum ; that of P. nietneri in the Vienna 

 Museum. 



This species is an exceedingly variable one in colour, that of 

 the elytra especially varying from yellow to violet-black by the 

 .appearance of a dark marginal band which gradually extends 

 until only a central yellow spot is left upon each elytron, which 

 may finally disappear. The clypeus, the sides of the pronotum, 

 the pygidium and the legs may similarly be light or dark. Many 

 names have been given to different phases in this sequence of 

 changes, and many more might be given if such names had any 

 value, which is doubtful. There seems indeed to be no logical 

 stopping-place until a name has been given to every individual. 



The following names have been published by Kraatz (Deutsche 

 Ent. Zeits. 1892, p. 263) and Ohaus(Stett. Ent. Zeir. 1897, p. 345 

 & Ent-. Nachr. 1899, p. 220): 



Var. lateralis, Kr. Clypeus, sides of pronotum, elytra, 



pygidium and legs pale. 

 Var. viridipes, Kr. Legs metallic green. 

 Tar. semilimbata, Oh. Elytra with a fine dark margin 



behind. 

 Var. Jiumeralis, Oh. Elytra with posterior margin and 



humeral dark spot. 



Var. Umbata, Oh. Dark margins nearly complete. 

 Var. aucta, Oh. Dark marginal line broader. 

 {Var. diffusa, Oh. )= typical discalis, Walker. Dark margin 



very broad. 

 Var. slolata, Oh. Yellow pigment reduced to a longitudinal 



stripe. 

 Var. microphthalmica, Oh. Yellow pigment reduced to a 



small central spot. 

 Var. apicalis, Oh. Yellow pigment remaining only near the 



hind angle. 



Var. nigripennis, Oh. Elytra entirely black. 

 Var. violaceipennis, Oh. Elytra entirely blue-black. 

 Var. suturalis, Oh. Elytra entirely black, with the sutural 



edges green. 



Var. viridida, Kr. Entirely green, with pale legs. 

 Var. viridissima, Oh. Body and legs green. 



Popillia discalis destroys the blossoms and young leaves of 

 roses in Ceylon, according to Mr. E. E. Green. 



