108 MANDIBULATA. — COLEOPTERA. 



varieties of the preceding insect I have seen placed in collections 

 for the present. 



Genus XLIL — Pcecilus, Bonelli. 



Palpi, external maxillary with the second and terminal joints of equal length, 

 the latteV subcylindric truncate; internal short, terminal joint obtuse; lahial 

 nearly filiform, the two last joints of equal length, the last truncate : labrum 

 subquadrate, obsoletely notched : mandibles slightly denticulated at the base : 

 mentum emarginate, with a lobe in its centre, which is sometimes bifid and 

 sometimes obtuse. Antennae with the third joint distinctly longest: head 

 subovate : thorax nearly quadrate, truncate, the hinder angles acute : elytra 

 rather convex, somewhat emarginate at the apex : wings rudimentary or 

 ample : anterior tarsi of the males with three dilated joints. 



The Poecili vary much, not only in colour, being found of every 

 tinge of green, blue, seneous, and black, but also in form and sculp- 

 ture ; nay, even the very organs that are least liable to variation 

 undergo a trifling change in this protean genus ; the notch in the 

 lobe of the anterior margin of the mentum being sometimes ob- 

 solete. It is therefore with great hesitation that I venture to add 

 some additional species to those already described ; but, as it is said 

 by a learned botanist (Sir J. E. Smith), that " corrected judgment 

 may, hereafter, combine what precise observation in the first in- 

 stance has separated," I shall proceed to detail them, leaving it to 

 future observers to ascertain their validity. The Poecili may be 

 known from the Pogoni by their superior size, and the form of the 

 terminal joint of the palpi, as well as that of the lobe of the mentum, 

 which is never so deeply emarginated, and frequently entire. The 

 species frequent open places, high-roads, and pathways, and may 

 be seen during the spring and summer months basking and flying 

 about in the sun ; hence called sunshiners in many places. 



Sp. 1. lepidus. Plate VII. f. 1. — Apterus, oblongus, antennis toto pedibusque 

 nigris, thorace postice utrinque profunda bistriato. (Long. corp. 5^ — 6| lin.) 

 Ca. lepidus. Fahricius. — Poe. lepidus. Steph. Catal. p. 22. No. 178. 



Above generally bright green-brass, the head and thorax very smooth and glossy, 

 the latter obsoletely wrinkled, with two narrow, deeply impressed, parallel 

 foveae at the base on each side, the interior one largest : elytra shining brassy- 

 green in the male, rather opaque in the female, striated, the abbreviated stria 

 united to the next at its tip : between the second and third from the suture 

 are three or four impressed dots, and a row on the margin : body beneath 

 shining brassy-black, delicately punctulated : antennae, palpi, and legs black : 

 tibiae and tarsi with reddish cilia. 



