3/0 Mr. J. Nietner on new Ceylon Coleoptem. 



caught in great numbers at night about the lights. This species 

 is very common in all the dry and sandy parts of the neigh- 

 bourhood of Colombo ; the pretty little 0, Gerstceckeri, however, 

 is scarce. 



49. Oosoma arenaria, N. 



0. supra brunnco-ajnea, subtus magis minusve brunnea, pedlbus, 

 palpis antennarumque basi testaceis, tarsis, labro limboque augus- 

 tissimo obscurioribus ; capitc ad clypei marginem post, punctis 2 

 impresso ; tborace ad basin obsoletissime 4-fovcolato, linea loiigi- 

 tud. abbreviata, iiidistineta, diviso, basi anticeque obsoletissime 

 striguloso ; subtus tenuiter birsuta. Long. corp. 2^-3 lin. ; lat. 

 U-1-} lin. 



50. Oosoma Gerstackeri, N. 



O. supra brunneo-fcnca, stepius glaucesccns, elytris dorso dilute 

 brunnescentibus maculis 4 longitud. irregularibus flavis pictis, 

 subtus magis minusve brunnea, pedibus, antennis labroque testaceo- 

 brunneis, palpis antennarumque basi testaceis. Long. corp. 2\ lin.; 

 lat. 1| lin. 



Excepting in colour, not essentially differing from the former. 

 However, the marks of the thorax arc more distinct, and the 

 four obsolete pits arc replaced by two longitudinal impressions j 

 the whole insect is, moreover, more graceful than the former. 

 The maculfe of the elytra may be said to commence at the basal 

 angles of the thorax, which are of a similar, but less distinct, 

 colour. The true humeral macula? begin at the base of the 

 elytra, and stretch nearly to the middle as a thick straight line 

 or narrow parallelogram, the principal part of which occupies 

 the sixth interstice, a spot being thrown out on either side. 

 The apical maculsc commence a little below the middle, and are 

 essentially composed of small squares heaped upon each other, 

 so as to form steps or an inverted pyramid. 



As this design varies more or less in different individuals, it 

 can be of no importance to describe it in a more detailed man- 

 ner; suffice it to say, that apparently in no instance does any 

 part of it reach either the inner or outer margin, the field upon 

 which it is displayed being enclosed by the first and seventh 

 strise. The brownish-green metallic upper surface of the insect 

 in some individuals throws off a fine blue reflex, very perceptible 

 on the head and thorax. The part of the back enclosed by the 

 maculse is washed out to a light brown, with the exception of the 

 suture, which remains dark. 



In naming this pretty species after Dr. Gerst?ecker of the 

 Royal Museum, Berlin, I wished to pay that gentleman the only 

 trifling compliment circumstances admit of, in acknowledgement 

 for various useful hints he has kindly communicated to me. 



