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Show 1892.] COLEOPTERA F R O M CENTRAL AFRICA. 95 or any other of its near allies. The presternum is black and the process deeply impressed (as in the allied species) ; the meta-sternum is black and shining ; and the abdomen is black, with the fifth and apical segments rufous, and the three segments preceding these with a yellow spot at the side of each. One specimen obtained by Mr. Bonny. 27. CASSIDA STRIGOSA, n. sp. Elliptico-ovata, nitida ; elgtris marginibus subexplanatis, irregulariter punctatis, disco concinne punctato-striatis corpore nigro; capite, antennis (articulis duobus ultimis femorum apicibus, tibiis, tarsis, margineque flavis. Long, 9, lat. 7 millim. Not very nearly allied to any species known to me. The outline is very evenly elliptical, with the whole (both thoracic and elytral) margin rather widely but evenly flattened. The green colour has apparently extended over the whole but faded to brown; the suture is narrowly reddish, and is hardly more distinctly marked beneath than above. The striae are rather deep, with closely packed punctures and convex interstices ; a row of larger punctures entirely surrounds the disk, separating it from the expanded margin. Two examples. 28. CASSIDA FUSCOPUNCTATA, n. sp. Breviter ovata, lutea, nitida; antennarum ariiculo ultimo toto,partim nigro ; elytris nitidis, disco seriatim fusco-punctatis, marginibus subreticulatis,prothoracis angulis externis rotundatis. Long. 6-7, lat. 5-6 millim. Hab. Aruwimi valley (Bonny), W . Africa (coll. Gorham), Old Calabar (coll. Murray). I propose this name for a very plain-looking Cassida, which I obtained from the collection of the late Mr. A. Murray, standing as "C. pallidula, Bohem.," but the species so named by that author is referred to Mexico. The same insect as Murray's is in my collection from other sources named " C. pallidula." It therefore appears that Boheman had suggested this name for the African insect when he examined Mr. Murray's collection, but that he subsequently described another species under that name. C. fuscopunctata is very shining and even, nearly as broad as long; in life it would seem to be greenish, from the tint on the disk and on the thorax in the fresher examples. The reticulation of the thorax and of the sides in the elytra is very distinct, and there is a submarginal row of larger cell-like punctures at the edge of the disk. The disk of both elytra and thorax is evenly and moderately convex; the underside and antennae except the apex are wholly luteous. One example from Central Africa (Bonny); many in Murray's collection from Old Calabar, now in my own collection. |