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Show 1878.] MR. A. BOUCARD ON THE GENUS PLUSIOTIS. 293 1. Notes on some Coleoptera of the Genus Plusiotis, with Descriptions of three new Species from Mexico and Central America. By A. B O U C A R D , C.M.Z.S. [Received February 4, 1878.] (Plate XVI.) I have again the pleasure to exhibit to the Fellows of this Society a fine series of Beetles of the genus Plusiotis, which I have acquired since I wrote m y former paper on these Insects in the 'Proceedings' *. Amongst them are four new species totally distinct from all others. Three of these have been liberally given to me by m y friends M M . Salle, Baden, and Rodriguez. The fourth I discovered during my last voyage in Costa Rica. This increases the number of species known of these fine insects to twenty, of twelve of which the types are in m y collection. During m y recent journey in Costa Rica, 1 have also been able to procure one more specimen of Plusiotis batesii, which agrees completely with the type, and one specimen of Plusiotis chrysargyrea, Salle, varying from the original types of the species, not being quite of the same colour. These insects are excessively rare, and appear to confine themselves to the forests, at a very high altitude. I was in Costa Rica in the proper season, and at the exact locality where these insects are found; but I was not able to get more than three specimens, although I offered a high price for them to the natives, and did myself all that possibly could be done; I made several excursions on purpose, but with no result. Every one in the country knew what I meant when I asked for golden and silvery beetles; but they did not procure m e any. PLUSIOTIS BATESII. Plusiotis batesii, Boucard, P. Z. S. 1875, p. 119, pl. xxiii. Hab. Volcano of Irazu, Costa Rica. One specimen of this fine species, found in May near Potrero Cerrado, at the altitude of 8000 feet, was alive, but had lost its abdomen and some of its legs. It had evidently just been caught by a bird and dropped, or had disengaged itself, after having lost its abdomen. The vitality of this insect is so great, that several hours after I had found m y specimen it could still move part of its body and its remaining legs. Although I looked with the greatest care for this insect, I was not able to find any more specimens. At the suggestion of m y friend Salle, who thought that they ought to be found abundantly on Mimosa trees, like Pelidnota, I searched for them during many days on these plants, but without success, and those which I secured were found in the oak-tree region. I saw another specimen, which I consider to be a very fine variety of this 1 See P. Z.S. 1875, p. 117. |