232 



nCINUELIDJT. 



difficult genera of the whole of the Coleoptera, it being quite 

 impossible, in many cases, to determine them without careful 

 comparison with the type-specimens, which are very scattered ; 

 moreover, the specific value of some of these appears somewhat 

 doubtful. About fifty species occur in the Indian region ; a key 

 to these is given in the following table, and I am much indebted 

 to Dr. Horn for help in its compilation. It must, however, be 

 regarded as provisional and as merely a general help towards the 

 identification of the species, it being impossible, in the present 

 state of our knowledge, to draw up a really satisfactory dicho- 

 tomous table of the genus. 



Key to the Species of Colly ris. 



I. Small and slender species (8-13 mm.), 

 with the eyes less prominent, the 

 vertex longer and narrower (especially 

 in the males), and the elytra more 

 closely and finely punctured, the punc- 

 tures not being elongate at apex (ex- 

 cept in N. plicicollis, W. Horn) ; colour 

 oreen, blue, or violaceous, metallic. 



i. Labrum short. 



1. Labrum, as a rule, mostly yellow; 



anterior pairs of femora dark, 

 except apex and base ; elytra longer 



and narrower brevilabris, W. Horn, p. 238. 



2. Labrum black , legs testaceous ; 



elytra shorter and broader planifrons, W.Horri, p. 239. 



ii. Labrum long or comparatively long. 

 1. Apex of abdomen concolorous. 



A. Elytra long in proportion to 

 pronotum and head ; pronotum 

 often without a distinct collum. 

 u. Pronotum with a more or less 

 distinct collum before apex ; apo- 

 physis or process of underside of 

 last abdominal segment in female 

 sometimes consisting of a larger 

 or shorter stalk dividing at the 

 end into two blunt more or less 

 curved processes, sometimes of 

 two parallel sharp points or spines 

 proceeding directly from the 

 posterior margin of the segment. 

 «*. Pronotum lagenoid or flask- 

 shaped, much dilated before 

 base, with a long and narrow 

 collum ; female with the apo- 

 physis stalked, the obtuse 

 points being very small. 



ttf. Collum long and distinct variicomis, Chaud., p. 245. 



/yf . Collum shorter and less abrupt 



and distinct auripemtis, W. Horn, p. 247., 



bf. Pronotum with the sides less 

 dilated behind. 



