African and Asiatic Species o/'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-tcstaceous labrum, basal half of 

 antennae, 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. Mehjris 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 antennae, 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, 



Fig. 6. 



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



closely umbilicate-punctate ; antennae 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 fovcate 

 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. 



