and species of CryptocephalidcE. 31 



at the base as long, sides nearly straight, and parallel from 

 the base nearly to the middle, thence obliquely converging 

 to the apex ; above convex, coarsely but not closely punc- 

 tured, obliquely excavated on either side behind the 

 middle, the puncturing finer on the centre of the disk. 

 Scutellum subquadrate, its basal margin bilobate. Elytra 

 not broader than the base of the thorax ; sides parallel, 

 moderately lobed before the middle ; upper surface coarsely 

 and deeply punctured ; interspaces thickened, transversely 

 elevate-reticulate ; near the apex, close to the suture, are 

 several short, raised vittte. Prosternum rather longer than 

 broad, its apical border produced, deflexed, thickened on 

 either side, and separated from the anterior episternum by 

 a deep notch ; hinder margin obtusely bilobed. 



Genus Idiocephala, Saunders. 



Trans. Ent. Soc. 1845, p. 142, pars ; Aporocera, pars. 



Corpus anguste subquadrato-oblongum, valde con- 

 vexum. Caput in thoracem iusertum ; ocuUs ovalibus, 

 intus triangulariter emarginatis ; antennis corjDore longi- 

 oribus $ , articulis 5to ad Hum s^pe comj)ressis et modice 

 incrassatis ; antennis corpore brevioribus 2 , articulis sex 

 ultimis plus minusve compressis et dilatatis. Thorax 

 convexus, dorso subgibbosus, lateribus marginatis, mar- 

 gine postico utriuque sinuato, lobo basali truncato. Scutel- 

 lum trigonatum. Elytra basi thoracis tequilata, pone 

 medium sfepe constricta, lobis epipleuralibus valde pro- 

 ductis. Pedes graciles, modice elongati, simplices ; ungui- 

 culis basi incrassatis. Prosternum planum aut leviter 

 concavum, margine antico deflexo, margine postico obtuse 

 truncato, interdum leviter sinuato. 



This genus is formed on a group of species pecu- 

 liar to Australia, of which S. speciosa, Boisduval, and 

 catoxantlia, Saunders, may be considered as types ; the 

 latter species, as before stated, Avas placed by Mr. Saunders 

 (although with doubt) in Aporocera. C. chrysomelinus, 

 condensatus, fraternalis, gracilis and eumolpus, insects 

 recently described by Dr. Chapuis, also belong to the same 

 generic group. Idiocephalajiaviventris and riigosa, Saun- 

 ders, also enter into it. The peculiar constriction of the 

 hinder half of the elytra, exposing in many species the 

 sides of the upper surface of the abdomen, together Avith 

 the strongly produced epipleural lobes, at once distinguish 

 Idiocephala li'om Ochrosopsis. 



