Mr. J. S. Baly on the Phytophaga. 451 



Pyropida sumjptuosa. 



P. oblonga, valde convexa, nitida, cserulea, viridi tincta ; elytris laete 

 purpureis, plaga trigoiiata commiini magna, a basi fere ad apicem ex- 

 tensa, aurea ; antennis metallico-viridibus. — Long. 4-5 liu. 



Hub. Malacca, Malay Peninsula. 



Oblong, very convex, nitidous, body metallic blue witb a green re- 

 flexion, more especially on tbe thorax and legs. Head remotely but 

 deeply punctured ; antennas metallic green, covered (tbe three or four 

 basal joints excepted) with a fine adpressed fulvous down. Thorax as 

 broad as long in the male, slightly broader in the female, remotely 

 punctured. Elytra obovate, truncate at the base, much broader than 

 the thorax; humeral callus prominent; disk transversely grooved 

 below the basilar space ; each elytron with eleven rows of distinct 

 but not coarse punctures, the first row short, interspaces plane ; bright 

 purple, a large common patch commencing at the base, where it 

 occupies the space between the two humeral calli, and extending 

 nearly to the apex of the elytron, gradually narrowing on the suture 

 until at last it becomes a mere sutural line, bright golden. 



Fam. HalticidsB. 

 Genus Podontia, Dalman. 

 Podontia 14-punctata (Linn.). 

 This species appears to possess several well-marked local varieties ; 

 two apparently new are described for the first time in the present 

 paper. I have had the opportunity of examining several individuals 

 of each of the forms, but (beyond that of colour, which appears to be 

 permanent and not to vary in the most trifling degree) have not 

 been able to detect the slightest difference between them, in sculp- 

 ture or otherwise ; the cedeagus, which in other species of the genus 

 forms a good specific character, does not here show any variation 

 whatever. The present is another instance of individuals of the 

 same species, brought from distant localities, presenting striking 

 and permanent differences in colouring and markings, but agreeing 

 in all other and more essential characters, showing us how little we 

 ought to depend on colour alone as a specific character. 



Podontia 14-putictata. 

 " C. testacea, coleopteris flavis, punctis sedecim nigris, duobus 



communibus." 

 Chrysomela l^-pimctata, Fab. Ent. Syst. i. 314. 29 ; Linn. Syst. Nat. 

 2599. 94. 

 Hab. India ; Java ; Lao. 

 Var. A. pallide rufo-picea; elytris nigro-piceis flavo irroratis, utroque 



