CRYPTOCEPHALUS. 199 



near margin slightly behind the middle, a third near apex, trans- 

 verse, nearer to margin than to suture, fourth slightly below 

 scutellum between 1st and 4th striae, fifth slightly lower than the 

 second, round, between 2nd and 4th striae." 



Length 3|-4^ mm. 



Hob. Bengal, Konbir. 



A very variable species which might easily be mistaken for 

 one of the varieties of G. vahli, but in which the inner 

 basal spot (when present) is always situated below the base, not 

 at the basal margin near the scutellum. This difference too, 

 and also the shape of the prosternum, separate this species from 

 C. abbreviations, Suffr. 



347. Cryptocephalus ensifer, Hope, in Gray's Zool. Misc. 1831, p. 80 ; 

 Suffr. Monogr., Linn. Ent. xiv, 1860, p. 9. 



Above flavous ; two transverse spots on thorax, posterior margin 

 and scutellum black ; elytra with two spots near base, sutural 

 margin at middle and a transverse band behind latter black ; part 

 of underside and legs entirely flavous. 



Head strongly and closely punctured, longitudinally grooved in 

 middle ; antennae with third and following joints very elongate, 

 basal five joints flavous, rest black. Thorax strongly transverse 

 and narrowed in front, entirely impunctate, a transverse black spot 

 on each side at middle. Scutellum rather broad, black, base more 

 or less flavous. Elytra broad, strongly punctate-striate, punctures 

 distinct but finer at apex, interstices finely and sparingly punctured, 

 the fourth and fifth, sixth and seventh, and eighth and ninth rows 

 of punctures joined at apex, an elongate spot on shoulders, another 

 slightly oblique below base near suture lower than the humeral 

 spot ; the transverse band widened at sides into a round spot, joins 

 the sutural band in a narrow stripe, is widened at junction with 

 that band and before the middle and abbreviated at each end. 

 Pygidium flavous at base, mesosternum and last abdominal seg- 

 ment likewise flavous ; prosternum of same colour, scarcely pro- 

 duced anteriorly, posterior angles acute. 



Length 5 mm. 



Hab. Nepal ; Sikhim : Mungphu. 



This is a well-marked species on account of the transverse 

 thoracic spots and markings of the elytra ; these may vary how- 

 ever, as in one specimen before me the posterior band is not 

 connected with the suture, only represented by a lateral large 

 spot, this spot is always placed nearer to margin and lower than 

 in any of somewhat similarly marked species (herbsti, senarius, &c.). 

 Suffrian gives the head as remotely punctured, the puncturation 

 is, on the contrary, close ; it is also difficult to understand how this 

 author can give the length as 5-7 millira., since he had only the type 

 in the British Museum for comparison (a single $ ), and Hope 

 himself gives the correct length as 2 lines. 



