168 
THE ORDER OF COLEOPTERA. 
mela cderuleipennis. Say also described two other and similar species, 
but without the yellow thorax, which he accredits to the Missouri terri- 
tory. Phcedon, Chev., contains a few small species, the type of which 
is the. P. viride , of Melsheimer. Prasocurie , Latr., coutaius three spe- 
cies, none of which are common. Plagiodera , Chev., is composed of a 
number of species of very variable color, and even the same species, as 
in the cases of the not uncommon P. scripta and P. interrupta, which 
are ordinarily yellow with blackish spots, are sometimes found wholly 
blue-black or green. This genus was formerly known as Melasoma, 
Dillwyn ; but the name is not properly applicable to the species, and 
besides was pre-occupied by Latreille — as we have seen in a former 
part of this work — as the general name of the black-bodied heteromera. 
It has been therefore replaced by Plagiodera, Chevrolat, meaning trans- 
verse thorax, and applied to them because the thorax is much wider 
than it is long. 
Ghrysochus, Chev., in the group of Eumolpini, meaning literally a 
goldsmith, is the generic name of the beautiful golden-green beetle, about 
four-tenths of an inch long, found on the dogs-baue and other species of 
Apocynum. It has usually been referred to the genus Eumolpus, but is 
now known as the Ghrysochus auratus, Fabr. It is common throughout 
both the Eastern and Western States, and has been found as far 
west as Arizona. Another similar species, but usually a little larger 
and of a deep blue-green color, has been found in Oregou and Califor- 
nia. It is the Gh. cobaltinus, of LeConte. Typophorus, Chev., contains 
three closely allied species, the type of which is the T. tricolor, Fab., 
found in the Middle and Southern States. The next five genera —Paria, 
Golaspis, Metachroma, Heteraspis and Xanthonia — contain a large num- 
ber of small, brown insects, though some species of Colaspis have a 
metallic lustre. Paria is distinguished from the others by the ear-like 
lobes on the anterior margin of the thorax, which partly cover the eyes. 
The same lobes exist in Chrysochus, but are situated lower dowm. The 
genus Fidia, of Dejean, is composed of a somewhat larger species, of a 
dark chestnut or blackish color, but with a mealy surface produced by 
dense, short, prostrate hairs. The insects of this genus have an econo- 
mic interest in consequence of damage done by them to the leaves of 
the grape-vine. The leading type is the F. viticida , Walsh. Dr. Le- 
Conte regards the longipes, Mels., and the viticola, Uhler, as only varie- 
ties of this species. 
Sub family CRYPTOOEPHALIDES. 
This group is founded upon the genus Gryptocephalus, of Geoffroy, a 
term meaning concealed head, and given to these insects because the 
head is so deeply immersed iu the strongly convex thorax that it can 
be scarcely or not at all seen when viewed from above. The pygidium 
