oct. — dec. 1856.] Descriptions of new Ceylon Coleopfera. 61 



advantage and describe fresh from nature, as many of his favourites 

 and their habits as possible ; and to discourage him in such an un- 

 dertaking on any of the above grounds would be to discourage the 

 progress of science in general, 



FAM. CARABIDiE, TRIB. CHLiENIDiE. 



1. Chlcenius Ceylanicus. N. 



C. subellipticus, subconvexus, glaberrimus, nitidus ; supra brun- 

 neo-seneus, capite, thoracis elytrorumque margine aureo-viridibus ; 

 subtus piceus, margine, pedibus oreque dilute castaneis. Long, 

 corp. 5 1 lin. 



Caput ante oculos 2-impressum. Antennae art. 3° quarto paulo 

 longiore. Mentum dente magno excavato. Thorax subquadratus, 

 latitudine parum longior, obsolete punctulatus, antice subconvexus, 

 lateribus deflexus, postice depressus, planus, 2-impressus. Elytra 

 subtiliter striato-punctata, obsoletissime punctulata. 



In stagnorum ripis inter arundines habitat, in prov. occid. et 

 merid. infrequenter legi. Per occasionem nocte ad lumen advolat. 



A handsome and interesting species, distinguished as well by its 

 general shape, which is more elliptic and convex than usual, as by 

 its polished surface. The head is oblong and, with the exception 

 of the mouth the parts of which are of a deep brown, of a bright 

 metallic green divided longitudinally by a streak of copper color. 

 The thorax is rather longer than broad, rounded in front and flat 

 behind and finely punctured all over ; it is of a brownish metallic 

 color bordered laterally with bright green. The elytra are of the 

 some color as the thorax, the same bright green stripe running 

 along the sides. The margin, properly speaking, is deep brown. 

 They are impressed with rows of fine indistinct punctures and with 

 the usual series of larger setigerous ones within the margin. They 

 are rather narrowed near the apex. 



The female, in addition to having the anterior tarsi not dilated, 

 has the basal impression of the thorax of a somewhat semi-circular 

 shape, and is broader in the body than the male. 



