1856.] Entomological Papers. 535 



Variat rnagnitudine et colore aeneo-brunnea. 



Prope Colombo in floribus per occasionem frequentissime legi. 



Of the usual shape and colour, but larger than usual, varying, 

 however, in this respect, some individuals being fully one third 

 smaller than others. These small individuals, which occur in the 

 proportion of about 1 to 20, are moreover nearly always of a brown- 

 ish metal colour instead of a blackish green. I have been unable to 

 discover any other distinctions. I was much interested by the 

 discovery of these insects, having missed them for years amongst 

 the abundantly represented Nitidulidce of the Island. They appear 

 of local occurrence or attached to certain plants, which is nearly the 

 same. I find them in abundance in the beautiful bellshaped blos- 

 soms of the Argyrera argentea and one or two other plants in my 

 garden. The species appears to differ from the typical Meligetlies 

 in the following points : the structure of the mentum, which I have 

 sufficiently described above, the last joint of the lab. palpi which in 

 this case is not truncated, and the firsC of the antennae which is 

 externally incrassated as in Epurcea. The antennae are otherwise 

 robust, the club is firm and hairy. The thorax is very ample, thin- 

 ly ciliated along the upper part of the interior margin, rather 

 strongly below. The prosternum is largely developed, marginated, 

 punctured and obtusely acuminated, overlapping the anterior part 

 of the mesosternum which (the anterior part) is cylindric and cari* 

 nated. Joints 1-3 of the tarsi are strongly penicillated below, the 

 penicilla being composed of glanduliferous hairs of a fine golden 

 colour. 



26. Georyssus gemma. N. 



G. pygmaei statura et magnitudine, supra purpureo-aeneus, iri- 

 descens, subtus piceus ; alatus. Thorax subsemior bicularis infra 

 apicem constrictus, sulco med. long, divisus, lateribus, basi apiceque 

 excavatus, impressionibus 3 majoribus dorsalibus, 2 minoribus later- 

 alibus. Elytra fortissime costata, costis obtuse dentatis, in inter- 

 stitiis transversim punctato-impressa, ad humeros profunde exca- 

 vata, infra medium leviter sinuata. Tibia? extus spinulosae, iutus 

 sparsim ciliatae. 



In prov. central, montibus Kotmaliensibus alt. 3500 ped. in rivu- 

 lorum ripis non infrequenter legi. 



