316 



HALTICINJ3. 



Underside smooth, iuipunctate ; abdominal sternites and parts of 

 the other regions sparsely hairy. 

 Length, 6| mm. ; breadth, 4 J mm. 



South India ; Madura, Shembaganur (S. MauliJc) ; Kodaikanal 

 (T. V. Campbell, Champion Coll.). The type-specimen bears on 

 the label no more information than " India, ex Clavareau " 

 (Jacoby Coll.). 



Type in the British Museum. Described from two examples. 



Genus SPH2ER0DERMA, Stephens. 



Sphceroderma, Stephens, 111. Brit. Ent. iv, 1834, p. 328; Chapuis, 

 Gen. Col. xi, 1875, p. 135 ; Fowler, Col. Brit. Islands, iv, 1890, 

 p. 373. 



Genotype : when proposing this genus, Stephens enumerated 

 several species, of which the first was Altica testacea, Fabr. (Syst. 

 Eut. 1775, p. 114). This European form is here designated as the 

 genotype. 



Body hemispherical, ovate, sometimes narrowed behind. Head 

 subtriangular, vertex somewhat convex ; eyes generally very large; 

 in the interocular space there is either a straight impressed line or 

 two oblique lines meeting in the centre, each of these Hues often 

 extends behind the eye, and they always form the posterior 

 boundary of the frontal tubercles, which are not always very 

 strongly produced ; interantennai space developed into a sharp 

 ridge or rounded elevation ; the labrum is large and may be either 

 transverse or longer than broad ; the clypeus and labrum have 

 generally a few erect, long, and thin hairs ; mouth-parts generally 

 somewhat exserted. Antennas never very long, but reaching 

 lengths between the base and three-quarters the length of the 

 elytra; first segment always long and club-shaped, second about 

 half the length of the first and thick, sometimes thicker than the 

 third ; in length the second and third are either equal or subequal ; 

 each of the following segments is somewhat longer, the fourth 

 and fifth are sometimes equal ; after the fifth, as a rule, the 

 segments are gradually thickened and in length about equal ; 

 the last is longer and pointed. Prothorax always much broader 

 than long, somewhat narrowed in front, longest along the middle 

 line and gradually shortened towards each side ; the sides may be 

 oblique but straight, or rounded, the anterior lateral angles some- 

 times produced and expanded, the posterior angles rounded, each 

 of the four angles often bearing a fine seta ; the front margin is 

 often one wide curve but sometimes it is sinuate, the posterior 

 margin is always sinuate on each side, with the middle portion 

 produced into a lobe ; no ante-basal transverse furrow ; surface 

 convex and generally punctate. Scutellum small, triangular, its sur- 

 face always smooth and impunctate. Elytra hardly broader at 

 base than prothorax; prothorax and elytra form the hemispherical 

 contour of the back as one continuous curve ; surface always 



