194 W. L. Distant — On a New Cosmoscarta. [No. 4, 



XVII. — Description of a Nsio Ilomopterous Insect helonging to the Genus 

 Cosmoscarta. — JSy W. L. Dibtant. Gomviunicated hy J. Wood- 

 Mason. 



COSMOSCAETA MASONI, n. sp. 



Pronotura stramineous, with a quadrate black spot on anterior margin j 

 head luteous ; tegmina, pectus, legs and abdomen shining black. Proster- 

 num with lateral borders stramineous. 



Ij'ace robustly tumid, transversely strigose, with a central impunctate 

 longitudinal impression ; eyes prominent, luteous ; ocelli distinct, shining^ 

 situated at about an equal distance from each other as from eyes ; basal 

 portion of the head somewhat pitchy. Pronotum thickly and finely punc- 

 tured, with the lateral margins dilated and strongly reflexed, the lateral 

 angles produced prominently outwards, and the posterior margin rounded, 

 the disc is prominently raised and convex, across the centre of which is a 

 faint impunctate central longitudinal line. The frontal quadrate black 

 patch contains a deep, angular, linear impression on each side behind the 

 eyes, and two small rounded impressions on the posterior border. 



Tegmina obscurely and finely punctured ; wings dark fuscous with the 

 nervures black. Hind tibiae with a small spine towards apex. 

 ?• Long. ex. tegm. 17 mill. Exp. tegm. 45 mill. 



Greatest long, pronot. 7^ mill. Exp. lat. ang. pronot. 11 mill. 

 Hahitat, Taoo, Tenasserim. Alt. 3—5000 ft. 



The distinct colouration and more especially the peculiar structure of 

 the pronotum, will serve to distinguish this fine species from any other of 

 the genus. In the last respect its nearest allied form will be the O. casta- 

 lis, Walk.* 



This insect was contained in a collection of Tenasserim RJiynchota 

 entrusted to me by Prof. Wood-Mason for determination. It is too 

 soon to speak of their geographical affinities as a whole, but the genus 

 Cosmoscarta, which was represented by two other species (G. megamera 

 and C. hasinotata), exhibits affinities which I believe will be shared by the 

 other RTiyncJiota of this collection. G. hasinotata has hitherto only been 

 recorded from Borneo, and G. megamera, although found in N. India, has 

 still been also received from Penang, Laos, and Hong-Kong. 



* Stal no doubt correctly places this form as only a variety of C. proserpina, White* 

 a species I do not possess in its typical form. 



