CHRYSINA. 285 



CHRYSINA. 



Chrysina, Kirby, Zool. Journ. iii. pp. 127, 520 (1827) ; Burmeister, Handb. der Ent.iv. l,p. 414; 

 Lacordaire, Gen. Col. iii. p. 359. 



Like Plusiotis, a characteristic Central- American genus, containing species of large size 

 and beautiful colours ; but differing as regards distribution in being confined to Mexico. 

 The characters which distinguish it from Plusiotis are almost solely derived from 

 the males, this sex having enormously developed hind legs, the females being Plusiotes 

 in everything except the convexity or protuberance of the hind part of the postpectus 

 and the inner end of the posterior coxae — a peculiarity developed in far greater degree 

 in the male, but transmitted in part to the female. 



1. Chrysina macropus. 



J 1 . Scarabaus macropus, Francillon, Descr. of anew and rare insect from Potosi, 1795, tab. J; 



Shaw, Nat. Miscell. tab. 384. 

 $ . Chrysina peruviana, Kirby, Zool. Journ. iii. p. 520, t. 14. fig. 3. 

 Chrysina mexicana, G. R. Gray, Griffith's Anim. Kingd., Ins. i. p. 517, t. 46. fig. 1. 

 Chrysina macropus, Burm. Handb. der Ent. iv. 1, p. 416 \ 



Hah. Mexico, San Luis Potosi *, Orizaba (Salle), Misantla, Jalapa (H'dge). 



The males vary much in size, and correspondingly in the convexity or protuberance 

 of the hind part of the postpectus and the inner condyle of the coxse to which the 

 monstrous hind femora are articulated. The condyle, the trochanters (at least their 

 outer sides), and the anterior edge of the coxse are blackish or dark green in both sexes ; 

 and in the female the epipleural fold of the elytra terminates abruptly, forming a short 

 lobe for the grasp of the vigorous males in copulation. 



I cannot but consider the following to be varieties of C. macropus, but they are 

 varieties of singular interest as resting chiefly on modifications of the sexual characters, 

 and at the same time local. 



Yar. 0. mniszecM, Boucard MSS. in coll. Salle. Trochanter, condyles coxarurnque margo anterior cuprei ex 

 parte nigrescentes. $ minus late oblongus ; 5 elytrorum plica epipleuralis postice minus abrupta (nee 

 verticaliter) terminata. 



Hah. Mexico, Tepansacualco (Salle), Jalapa (Hbge). 



Var. G. adolphi, Chevr. Eev. Zool. 1859, p. 481 2 . Trochanter, condylus coxarumqne margo anterior virides 

 partim hete cuprei. $ minus late oblongus, postpectusque minus convexum ; $ elytrorum plica epipleuralis 

 postice gradatim terminata ibique paullo explanata nee lobata. 



Hah. Mexico, Oaxaca 2 (Fenochio, in coll. Pates), Juquila (Salle). Our series includes 

 Chevrolat's types. 



Var. G. modesta, Sturm, Cat. 1843, p. 338, t. 3. fig. 3 3 . $ . Trochanter, condylus coxarumque margo anterior 

 omnino geneo-virides, elytrorumque plica sicut in G. adolphi. Thorax et elytra subtilissime punctulata 

 fere laevia ; tarsi chalybei. 



Hah. Mexico 3 (SalVe, ex coll. Sturm). Specimen typicum. 



