( 3G3 ) 



Contributions to a knowledge of the Coleoptera of Madaf/ascar ; 

 liy CiiAs. O. Wateuhouse. 



The British Museum lias recently acquired a small but most 

 iuterestiug collection of Coleoptera from Madagascar. The 

 specimens were collected in the neighbourhood of Fianarantsoa, 

 the capital of the Betsileo country, directly south of Antanan- 

 arivo, by the Rev. W. Deans Cowan. Besides several new 

 species of Cetoniidce, an account of which has already appeared 

 (Ent. Mo. Mag. September, 1878), the collection contained 

 several examples of Arrhythnns and Logisticus, remarkable 

 new genera of Longicorns described by myself in a paper read 

 before the Entomological Society at a recent meeting. There 

 are also very mimerous specimens of Artelida (Toxotus) seri- 

 ccus, Guerin, showing great vai'iation in size (7 to 111 linos); 

 many of the examples have l^rownish elytra. 



CARABID^. 



Dri/ptu iris, Castln., Hist. Nat. i, p. 34. 



This species is only known to me from description, and I am 

 in doubt as to whether the specimen sent by Mr. Cowan is the 

 same. It differs in coloration ; the head and thorax very 

 strongly, irregularly and rather thickly punctured ; the thorax 

 is two-thirds longer than broad, subparallel in front, gently 

 constricted behind, there is an extremely fine median line. The 

 elytra are very strongly striate, and the stria3 are very strongly 

 punctured, the interstices are moderately convex (subcostiform 

 towards the sides) microscopically transversely coriaceous, with 

 a stray puncture here and there ; the apex of each is obliquely 

 truncate, the external angle of the truncature is a distinct tooth. 

 The underside and the legs are aeneous. The head and thorax 

 are coppery, the elytra uniform purple. 



A very distinct species, not only on account of the colour, 

 liut the almost impunctato interstices readily separate it frorn 

 its allies. 



