BEETLES EKOM CENTRAL AMEEICA, 133 



castanea, pedibus antennisque concoloribus ; subtus fuseula ; clypeo 

 antice obtuso ; thorace margine basali argute elevato ; elytris impun- 

 ctatis, sat nitidis. Long. 27 millim., lat. \3^ millim. 



Head densely punctured ; clypeus slightly prolonged, quite obtuse in 

 front, and with its margin slightly reflexed. Thorax very transverse, 

 with the basal and lateral margins acutely defined, the front margin 

 obsolete in the middle : the surface is but little shining, and its punc- 

 tuation, though rather close, is indefinite, and at the sides becomes 

 dense, confluent, and still less distinct. The scutellum is finely but 

 distinctly punctured. The elytra are vv'ithout sculpture, but are little 

 shining, their surface having the appearance of very delicate leather. 



The pygidium is densely and finely rugose, and dull. The under sur- 

 face is much darker than the upper ; the postcoxal process of the 

 prosternum is elongate, subperpendicular; the mesosternal process is 

 - distinctly prominent and projects beyond the edge of the coxse. 



This species may be readily distinguished amongst its allies by 

 its elongate form and its impuuctate elytra and acutely elevated 

 basal margin of the thorax. I think the individuals I have seen 

 are females. The species appears best placed at present near the 

 JSTorth- American P. quadripunctata, from w^hich (independently of 

 colour and form) it is readily distinguished by the more elongate 

 and perpendicular postcoxal process of the prosternum. 



Antichira gratiosa, n. sp. Supra Isete viridis, baud metallica, sub- 

 tus viridi metallescens, epipleuris cupreis ; scitello minore ; elytris fere 

 impunctatis, et estriatis ; pectore parcissinie pubescente, lateribus for- 

 titer strigulosis ; mesosterni processu elongato, pauUulum descendente, 

 sed apicem versus fortiter recurvato. Long- corp. 25-30 millim. 



Clypeus riither elongate and narrow towards the front, its front margin 

 distinctly reflexed, obscurely truncate in the middle : the punctures 

 on the clyj)eus are dense near the front, become more sparing on the 

 posterior part, and are very fine and scanty on the vertex. Thorax 

 short and rather small, the base in front of the scutellum truncate, 

 but not emarginate ; the surface bears a few not very distinct punc- 

 tures, which towards the sides, however, are more numerous and 

 rather more distinct. Scutellum 4-5 millims. long, and about 4 mil- 

 lims. broad at the extreme base. Elytra without distinct sculpture, and 

 with only very obscure indications of striaj. Pygidium rather coarsely 

 strigose. Underside more metallic than the upper, it being of a green 

 colour with a distinct golden or brassy tinge, appearing at first desti- 

 tute of pubescence, but bearing a few fine hairs on the sides of the 

 metasternum. The legs are slender and concolorous with the under 

 surface ; the basal portion of the epipleurae is of a coppery colour, 

 and shows, therefore, a distinct contrast with the rest of the surface. 



