280 MANDIBULATA. COLEOPTERA. 



maxillary elongate-ovate : mandibles bidcntate at the apex : maxilloe bifid : 

 labium entire: head exserted, nutant, with a distinct collar: eyes prominent, 

 emarginate within : thorax immarginate, attenuated posteriorly, and much 

 narrower than the elytra, which are elongate-ovate, entire, subquadrate when 

 united: /eg-i' short, robust : femora incrassated: tibiw simple. 



Tlie pretty genus Crioceris may be recognized from the other 

 genera of the family by the filiform palpi, of which the terminal 

 joint is elongate-ovate, the second and fourth abbreviated joints of 

 the antennae, which are of moderate length, the thorax not being 

 tuberculate on its sides, and much narrower than the elytra. 



A. Body short ; thorax with the lateral margins sometimes deeply cut out 



behind. 



Sp. 1. raerdigera. Nigra, thorace elytrisque rufis immaculatis, elytris sub- 



tilissime punctato-striatis. (Long. corp. 3^ — 4 lin.) 

 Ch. merdigera. Linne. — Cr. merdigera.— (Samowe/^e, pi. 2.f. 14. — Steph. Catal. 



210. iVo. 2123. 



Black: thorax and elytra rufous, immaculate, the latter deUcately punctate- 



striate. 

 The larva of this insect clothes itself with its excrement, similarly to that of the 



Cassidae. 



Rare : found in gardens, in June, within the metropolitan district, 

 chiefly on the white lily; upon which plant it has recently been 

 stated to have been imported into this country, though upon mere 

 theory. " Camberwell." — Rev. Professor Henslow. " In a garden 

 at Peckham." — Mr. Merrick. " On Crwrnlyn-burrows," — L. W. 

 Dillwyn^ Esq. 



Sp. 2. duodecimpunctata. Rubra, elytris dilutioribus, singula punctis sex nigris, 

 antennis, pectore, genuhus tarsisque nigris. (Long. corp. 2| — 3 lin.) 



Ch. 12-punctata. Linne. — Martyn, C. pi. 16. _/! 36.— Cr. ]2-punctata. Steph. 

 Catal. 210. No. 2124. 



Red, with the elytra paler, the latter each with six black spots, one on the shoulder, 

 the second rather behind towards the margin, the third near the suture in a 

 broad depression, the fourth larger, placed transversely in the middle of the 

 disc, which is punctate-striate, the fifth small, behind the middle towards the 

 suture, the sixth larger and transverse within the apex : the antennw, breast, 

 joints of the legs and tarsi are also black : thorax very convex. 



Variable as to the size of the spots, which have sometimes a disposition to 

 coalesce. 



Very rare in this country : I possess a very fine series of varieties 

 which were captured in June near " Bath." — Dr. Leach. 



