Royal Physical Society. 211 



elytra, in places snowing a slight tendency to run in rows. 

 There are also a few shallow longitudinal depressions, which 

 may be viewed as evanescent striae. They are slightly de- 

 pressed around the scutellum. The shoulders, and an eleva- 

 tion or haunch near the outer margin, towards the apex, are 

 prominent. The elytra are expanded a little for the posterior 

 half, and each is rounded in a little towards the suture ; a dis- 

 tinct marginal line or thread, reflexed towards the base, goes 

 round the elytra. Legs light, reddish chestnut-brown ; tarsi 

 long, and dark brown ; anterior tibiae long, flattened, incurved, 

 obtusely denticulated on the outer margin ; middle tibiae with 

 two or three very small teeth ; posterior tibiae with scarcely 

 perceptible indications of denticulation. 



The differences between the male of this species and that of 

 S. Prionoides, are the following, viz. : — The mandibles in the 

 former are nearly twice as long as in the latter, and are closer 

 set together ; the bend or interruption in the ridge on their 

 upper side takes place one-third from their base, while in 

 Prionoides it is at one-third from their apex ; and in the latter 

 the ridge runs nearly straight to the head for the posterior 

 half, while in the former it is curved for the short distance it 

 has to go after the bend. The maxillary palpi here are com- 

 paratively longer. The thorax is somewhat differently shaped ; 

 it tapers towards the front more rapidly in this species. The 

 punctuation is closer and deeper in Prionoides ; the pubescence 

 in it is cinereous ; in this it is russet, or fulvous yellow ; it is 

 also in greater abundance here. The aeneous lustre on this 

 species is very distinct, while in Prionoides it is either want- 

 ing or scarcely perceptible. The elytra in this expand dis- 

 tinctly behind ; in Prionoides the sides are more parallel to 

 each other ; in the latter the anterior tibiae are narrower, and 

 the teeth on the outer margin sharper and more developed ; on 

 the middle and posterior tibiae the small teeth are distinct ; 

 whilst in this species they are either wanting or scarcely per- 

 ceptible. 



Female. — Larger and broader than Sph. Prionoides, and 

 with differently-formed mandibles; dark chestnut; the posterior 

 angles of the thorax virescent, the rest of the body without 

 any brassy or green lustre ; under-side covered with a dull 



