1888.] PHYTOPHAGOUS COLEOPTERA. 345 



Very closelj' allied to N. modestum, Jac, from Japan, but differ- 

 ing in the more deeply punctured thorax, the narrow transverse 

 groove near the anterior margin, in the less distinctly angulate sides 

 of the thorax, and in the much more strongly raised base of the 

 elytra, which forms a rounded tubercle, distinctly visible to the naked 

 eye ; there is also a distinct lateral depression visible at the disk of 

 the thorax in N. modestum which in N. leechi is absent. About a 

 dozen specimens were obtained. 



HeTERASPIS NITIDISSIMA, n. Sp. 



Metallic green or cupreous, clothed with whitish pubescence and 

 black erect hairs ; antennae black, the base fulvous ; head and thorax 

 strongly and closely punctured. 



Length 3-4^ lines. 



Head closely punctured at the vertex, the latter convex, the epi- 

 stome more remotely and strongly punctate, its separation from the 

 face indicated by a small more or less distinct tubercle, its anterior 

 margin deeply emarginate at the middle and at the sides ; labrum 

 smooth, impunctate, cupreous ; jaws black. Antenna slender, half 

 the length of the body, the lower three joints fulvous, the rest black. 

 Thorax subcylindrical, the sides strongly deflexed, the anterior angles 

 with a smooth tubercle ; the posterior margin straight at the sides, 

 rounded and produced at the middle, the surface impressed with 

 deep and closely placed punctures, clothed like the head with vrhite 

 and black erect hairs ; scutellum finely rugose. Elytra with a faint 

 transverse depression below the base, the shoulders acute and promi- 

 nent, the surface very closely punctured, the punctures smaller than 

 those at the thorax, but intermixed with larger ones, the apex very 

 finely punctate. Below closely punctured and pubescent. 



iZ. nitidissima is very closely allied to H. vestita, Baly, but differs 

 in the bright metalHc green or cupreous general colour ; the latter 

 in H. vestita is obscure seneous ; there are besides this some other 

 differences to be found, the present species having a tubercle placed 

 at the middle of the face. There seem to be only females in the 

 present collection amongst more than 12 specimens, and I am not 

 able to say anything in regard to the two teeth to be found on the 

 epistome in the male of H. vestita ; it is, however, possible that the 

 insect described here is a variety of the last-named species. 



Heteraspis imperialis, Baly. 



All the specimens obtained at Kiukiang, which I must refer to Mr. 

 Baly's sjjecies, differ from the type in the more strongly punctured 

 elytra, which have the interstices more finely punctured, so that the 

 punctuation consists of larger and smaller punctures crowded together. 



Chrysomela japana, Baly. 



Of this species Mr. Leech obtained a great many specimens, which 

 prove great variability in regard to the sculpture and also shape of 

 the thorax ; the latter has the sides sometimes greatly widened before 

 the middle, much less so in other specimens, and the punctuation of 



