%fe*'Hffil ^b .^ ViU m1»i fMunS^ Mill m H^^^istf ^^«U Mwm fnlli ^t mfl 1 11 wH nffl mfk M 1 m m Wig THOZnAS JLWC0LK LIBRARY 1925 .,} COLEOPTEROLOGICAL NOTICES. I. WITH AN APPENDIX ON THE TERMITOPHILOUS STAPHYLINIDJ] OF PANAMA. BY THOS. L. CASEY. [Extract from the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, Vol. V.] ^^1 1 II. — Coleojjterological Notices, I. ■I ~ ' BY THOMAS L. CASEY. Read October 7, 1SS9. The following pages embody the results of a number of detached studies in various parts of the Coleopterous series, and are confined, in general, to the fauna of America north of Mexico. The family Phalacrida3, and the genera Thinobius, Aploderus, and Limnichus are treated monographically. I have to acknowledge my appreciation of the kindness shown me by the authorities of the Museum of Comjmrative Zoology, at Cambridge, Mass., under the curatorship of Dr. H. A. Hageo, for permission to examine the types of Dr. LeConte, without which no systematic work of scientific value could have been accom- plished. I am also indebted to Prof. C. V. Riley for the use of the material of the National Museum, which has been of great service in determining geographical distribution in the Phalacridee, and to Dr. D. Sharp, and Messrs. E. A. Schwarz, Otto Lugger, and H. F. Wickham, for valuable specimens. New York, September 29, 1889. Note. The introduction of new names for parts of an insect, when names already in use will serve just as well, should be avoided, and, as the term hypomera has been employed by me in many descriptions for the inflexed sides of either the pronotum or elytra, by prefixing the proper adjective, it may be objected that epipleurcB would serve the same purpose, and that the new word is therefore unnecessary. I have consequently determined to restrict the meaning of hypo- mera, so as to denote simply the inflexed sides of the pronotum, reserving the word epi/)leime to denote the inflexed sides of the elytra, and the word hi/po- 40 Goleopterological Notices. pleurce to designate the lower beaded margin of tlie epifileurse, which, although generally small and sometimes obsolete, occasionally becomes larger and rather conspicuously modified. It is hoped that this will tend to promote conciseness, and that the consequent reduction of words will warrant the proposed nomen- clature. CARABID.E. PSEUDOMORPHA Kirby. By referring to the table of species published by Dr. Horn (Trans. Am. Ent. Soe., X, p. 273), it will be seen that the following form is not closely allied to any hitherto known. It is extremely slender, parallel and convex, and is distinguished by the nine series of ely- tral punctures being very distinctly traceable. P, cylindrica n. sp. — Parallel, very convex, rather more than three times as long as wide, uniformly blackish-piceous above ; under surface and legs bright rufous ; integuments highly polished ; margins fimbriate. Head short and broad, feebly convex, nearly four-fifths as wide as the prothorax, very finely, sparsely and unevenly punctate, the punctures in the form of minute strongly emlwssed rings ; eyes large, finely faceted ; antennae sleuder, compressed, cylindrical ; joints four to eleven very compactly joined, second three-fifths as long as the third, the latter longer than the fourth, five to ten subequal, nearly as long as the third, the eleventh longer. Prothorax scarcely more than one-third wider than long ; sides very feebly convergent from base to apex and just visibly arcuate ; basal angles — viewed laterally — broadly rounded, apical narrowly rounded ; base and apex transversely truncate, the former with a fringe of short pointed closely placed setae ; disk transversely, very strongly convex, very narrowly explanate along the sides, margined at the sides and apex with a wide elevated bead which is completely obsolete throughout the basal margin, very minutely, sparsely punctate ; punctures rather unevenly distributed, annulate ; median impressed line completely obsolete. Scutellum very minute, transversely triangular. Elytra folly as wide as the base of the prothorax, twice as long as wide, three and two-thirds times as long as the prothorax ; sides parallel and straight ; together abruptly siibtruncate at apex, the truncation broadly arcuate ; disk cylindrically and strongly convex, with nine distinct and almost even series of fine distant sub- asperate punctures, the punctures of the second series fi'om the suture much larger and with longer setae, those of the fourth series also more distinct but much smaller than those of the second ; intervals impunctate. Length 7.0 mm. ; width (base of prothorax) 2.1 mm. Texas (El Paso). Mr. G. W. Dunn. The single specimen is a male, and the sexual characters are remarkably distinct. The third and fourth segments of the abdomen have, each, a large transversely-elliptical impression, or more appa- Coleopterological Notices. 41 rently shallow perforation, which is situated in the middle near the base, and about as wide as the length of the fifth tarsal joint ; they are similar in form and position ; the bottom is flat and densely spongiose, and the anterior margin bears a fringe of long closely- placed subrecumbent setae, which extend over and partially protect the sensitive spongiose area. The long second segment is more densely pubescent than the remainder of the abdomen. STAPHYLINID^E. BLEDIIJS Leach. A partial revision of the North American species of this extensive and interesting genus has been published by Dr. LeConte (Trans. Am. Ent. Soc.YI, p. 21*7 ef fpearing in a row of feeble punctures at about the middle. Abdomen strongly reticulate, sparsely, finely punctate, very sparsely pubescent. Legs moderate, tibiae slender ; posterior spurs small, subequal, the corresponding tarsi about two- thirds as long as the tibise, with the basal joint more than one-half as long as the second. Length 1.4 mm. New Jersey (Cape May). The nietasternal process is very wide, broadly rounded at apex, the mesosternum in front of it rather short, transverse and but very slightly tumid ; the prosternal process is wide, and the spinules along- its apical margin very short and widely distant. The surface of the metasternum in the middle anteriorly is extremely sparsely pubescent, and not visibly punctate. The dark color and sternal structure will at once distinguish this small species from vitidus, which it somewhat resembles in elytral sculpture and punctuation, and the short very feeble discal stria separates it from every other species of the genus known to me. It appears, however, to resemble the Mexican Olibrus porrectus Sharp, which is almost certainly not an Olibrus. S. COIlTergens n. sp. — Somewhat narrowly oval, very convex, polished, dark rufo-testaceous throughout, distinctly attenuate behind from the base of the elytra, the apex narrowly subtruncate and about one-half as wide as the base. Head finely but rather distinctly punctate, more densely so toward the eyes and base, not at all reticulate ; antennse moderate in length, third joint rather shorter than the next two together, fourtli shorter than the fifth, seventh and eighth siibequal in length, more robust, club very long and strongly de- veloped, ninth and tenth joints equal in length, more acutely angular on the anterior side which is more densely pubescent, eleventh nearly as long as the two preceding. Prothorax rather long, not more than twice as wide as long, highly polished, not reticulate, very minutely and rather sparsely punctate; Coleopterological Notices. 135 basal lobe very feeble, the marginal bead obsolete. Scntellnm very short and broad, more than twice as wide as long. Elytra excessively minutely and feebly strigilate, having series of very minute simple punctures which, abruptly, near the sides, become strongly transverse, confused and feebly crescentiform, the sculpture also becoming more granulato-reticulate ; discal stria deeply im- pressed, obsolete at basal third. Abdomen sparsely, coarsely pubescent, the transverse rows near the apices of the segments almost spinose. Legs moderate in length, rather robust ; spi;rs of posterior tibiae slightly robust, moderate in " length, and very slightly unequal ; posterior tarsi rather robust, the third joint rather strongly dilated and bilobed, first joint about two-thirds as long as the second, the latter spinose beneath and longer than the fifth which is very slender. Length 2.0 mm. Florida. Mr. Schwarz. The iiietasternal process is very broad and rather long, advancing almost to the anterior limits of the coxae, subtruncate at apex with the lateral beaded margin very wide, the surface polished, and almost completely impunctate and glabrous, the mesosternum before it very short, slightly tumid, glabrous in the middle but scabrous and setose at the latei-al angles. The prosternal process is broad, dilated at apex, having a fine strong beaded margin throughout the sides and apex, the setfB of the transverse apical series very short but numerous. This is a decidedly aberrant species, especially in tarsal structure. It is also peculiar in having the small fovese at the sides of the head near the eyes quite as well developed as in Phalacrus. S. atteniiatUS n. sp. — Narrowly ovoidal, convex ; sides of the elytra gradually convergent from base to apex, the latter narrowly rounded ; dark rufo-testaceous throughout, polished. Head very strongly retractile, polished, not reticulate, very minutely and sparsely punctate ; antennse nearly as in convergens, the club rather more slender and more symmetrical. Prothorax not more than twice as wide as long, the sides rather feebly arcuate ; basal lobe almost completely wanting, the marginal bead nearly obsolete ; surface not reticulate, excessively finely, feebly and very sparsely punctate. Scutellum very short, twice as wide as long. Elytra excessively minutely strigilate in transverse wavy lines which are obsolete toward suture and base ; discal stria distinct, obsolete at basal third ; punctures of the series equal throughout the width from the suture to the sides, deeply impressed, narrowly atid strongly crescentiform and distinct, except near the base and toward apex where they become nearly obsolete ; intervals each with a single more irregular series of very feeble and much smaller punctures of the same general character, the series not confused near the sides. Abdomen finely reticulate, sparsely, coarsely pubescent. Legs somewhat robust ; posterior tibiae more arcuate within, rapidly narrowed toward base ; spurs very small, slightly iinequal ; tarsi slightly robust, basal joint two-thirds as long as the second. Length 1.6 mm. 136 Coleopferological Notices. New York ; Michigan ; Texas. The head is strongly retracted within the prothorax in each of the single representatives of the above localities. The nietasternal process is rather narrow, short, strongly rounded at apex, and strongly beaded at the sides, the mesosternum in front of it un- usually long but almost perfectly flat and not setose, except very sparsely at the sides. Prosternal process rather wide, extending rather further than usual beyond the coxae, with the free edge strongly, transversely arcuate, and very acute ; the process is very minutely beaded at the sides, but not at all at apex, where the seti- form spinules are short, erect and very widely spaced. This species is quite as aberrant as conver-gens, but does not at all resemble it in the structure of the sterna. The post-coxal portion of the mesosternum is not as long as in some other species, but is very clearly and abruptly limited throughout by an evenly arcuate declivous line. The terminal setiB of the prosternal process are not quite as short as in convergens, but are very much more widely spaced, being only about four in number, S. eloilgatlllus n. sp. — Subelongate, convex, polished, black above, the elytra gradually slightly paler at apex ; under surface pale, rufo-testaceous throughout ; sides feebly convergent behind from the base of the elytra. Head retractile, feebly convex, rather closely but extremely finely punctate ; surface not reticulate; eyes rather large; antennse slender, the club slender, some- what compact, attenuate toward base, the ninth joint rather longer than wide, longer and narrower than the tenth, eleventh about as long as the two preced- ing. Prothorax rather elongate, scarcely twice as wide as long ; sides evenly, distinctly arcuate ; surface polished, not at all reticulate, excessively minutely punctate, the punctures not very sparse ; basal lobe extremely feeble, the bead fine but distinct near the middle, obsolete laterally, Scutellum small, nearly twice as wide as long, angulate ; sides straight, abruptly arcuate near the base. Elytra rather distinctly more than twice as long as the prothorax ; sides nearly straight toward base, together somewhat narrowly rounded behind ; basal stria fine, reflexed along the scutellum, the single discal stria very coarse and deeply impressed, becoming gradually feebler and punctate toward base ; disk coarsely and strongly reticulate in well-defined transverse wavy lines, the sculpture becoming abruptly almost obsolete near the base, having rather distant rows of coarse deeply-impressed rounded punctures, which are scarcely perceptibly stronger toward the suture, the rows not attaining the base and becoming gradually obsolete toward the apex, the punctures of the lateral rows distinct but not dilated, the rows not accom- panied by impressed lines. Length 1,3 mm. Coleopterological Notices. 137 Florida (Tampa). Mr. Schwarz. The structure of the under surface agrees quite closely with that of aftenuafus, to which this species is most unquestionably allied, but from which it is abundantly distinct in size, coloration, and punctuation, the punctures of the elytral series being much les.s widely spaced and more numerous. LITOCHRUS Erichs. This genus, and the two which follow, are distinguished from all the others of the family by an abrupt and very radical difference in the structure of the posterior t^irsi, for here, instead of the basal joint being very much shorter than the second, it is correspondingly longer, and in the present genus is extremely developed. The four species which are assigned below to Litochrus, possess the following assemblage of characters, pulchellus being assumed as the type : — Ligula short, broad, with a small median tooth at apex, the paraglossse large, dilated, semiiaembraiions, rather thick and slightly reflexed. Labial palpi very sliort and robust, first joint minute, triangular ; second oblique, short, slightly longer than the first, strongly transverse ; third longer than the two preceding together, extremely robust, subquadrate, slightly longer than wide, strongly compressed and broadly, transversely truncate at apex. Prosternal process infiexed at apex, not setose. Mesosternum in front of the metasternal process very short and transverse, not prominent, forming a fine undilated bead behind the middle coxae. Metasternal process rather long and wide. Posterior tibiae and tarsi very slender, the first joint of the latter much longer than the entire remainder ; tibial spurs well developed, slender. The true Litochrus of Erichson agrees with this, according to description, in the structure of the ligula, but differs greatly in the labial palpi, ^ and the species here assigned to it may possibly have to be separated. The fact that widely different localities have been assigned to the genus by its author, renders it almost certain that several genera have been confounded, more especially as we know now that there are several distinct genera with elongate basal joint 1 The labial palpi are described by Erichson as having the first joint long, somewhat longer than the second, the third elongate-ovoidal, which is much more true of either Litochropus or Ochrolitus, than it is of the American species of Litochrus. This is, however, a matter which cannot be satisfac- torily settled until the entire family is monographically revised. 138 Coleopferological Notices. in North America alone. The original description probably refers to either the Madagascan, New Holland or Tasmanian representatives. Our four species may be easily separated as follows: — Castaneous ; elytra each with two Large ohlique spots of pale flavate. piilchellus Piceous-black ; elytral suture, lateral and apical margins, and a transverse band at basal third paler, rufo-testaceous Cl'UCigerus Piceous above throughout, the suture sometimes very narrowly, indefinitely and feebly rufescent illllliaculatus Intense black throughout above aterriinus L.. pillcliellUS Lee. — Proc. Ac. Phil., 1856, p. 17. — Evenly and not very broadly oval, moderately convex, dark brownish-testaceous, the elytra each with two oblique pale tiavate spots, one near the base and the other near the apex, the latter the larger, neither attaining the suture or the lateral margin, the anterior extending from near the humeri to anterior third, and slightly sinuous ; under surface throughout pale tiavate. Head polished, extremely minutely and rather sparsely punctate ; eyes large ; antennae slender, outer joints of funicle slightly more robust and slightly transverse, third not as long as the next two combined, club slender, as long as the seven preceding joints, eleventh distinctly longer than the two preceding together. Prothorax short, much more than twice as wide as long, polished, not reticulate, very finely, moderately sparsely punctate ; basal lobe wide, abrupt, short but very distinct, the apex transverse ; marginal bead obsolete. Scutellum angulate, slightly wider than long; sides feebly arcuate. Elytra very minutely but distinctly strigilate in transverse wavy lines throughout, having series of very wide feeble and feebly crescentiform punctures, which become wider near the sides where the series are still regular ; intervals near the sides with single regular series of very small punctures of similar nature, which, toward the suture, become m\ich more minute and feeble, and confusedly dispersed over the entire interval, especially between the discal striae ; the latter fine but dis- tinct, obsolete at basal third or fourth, the first continuous to the apex, the second coincident with the first at apical fifth ; sutural bead obsolete, except toward apex, where it is excessively fine, feeble and just traceable. Leys very slender ; posterior tibial spurs slender, long and distinct, slightly unequal, the tarsi extremely slender, cylindrical, the first joint fully one-third longer than the entire remainder. Length 1.1-1.7 mm. Florida ; Texas. The metasternal process is wide, and extends to the anterior limits of the coxae, the mesosternum before it being very short and transverse, and not at all prominent ; the prosternal process is rather wide and feebly dilated at the inflexed apex. \a, criicigerus n. sp. — Narrowly, almost evenly elliptical, strongly convex, polished, piceous-black, the suture and lateral and apical margins Coleopterological Notices. 139 narrowly, and a transverse line crossing the suture at basal third paler, rufo-testaceous, the pale areas not very abruptly limited ; under surface pale flavo-testaceous. Head and antennje nearly as in the preceding species, the former more sparsely and unevenly punctate. Prothorax, scutellum and stri- gilation of the elytra nearly as in immomlatus, the former slightly more sparsely punctate. Elytra having rows of extremely wide cresceiitiform punctures, nearly as in the preceding species, but rather more strongly impressed, the punctures of the intervals very small but distinct toward the suture, becoming almost obsolete laterally ; two discal striae distinct, obsolete at basal third. Legs, tarsi and sternal structure nearly as in pulcheJlus. Length 1.5 mm. Florida. Mr. Schwarz. This species differs conspicuously from the others in coloration, but the structural characters are nearly alike in all of them, the punctures in general, and especially the very strongly transverse crescentic punctures of the elytra, are, however, decidedly most distinct in the present species. Li. imniaculatus n. sp. (Zimm. MS.) — Narrowly and almost evenly oval, strongly convex, polished ; upper surface dark piceous, the suture feebly rufesceni ; under surface throughout pale flavo-testaceous. Head not reticu- late, polished, finely but rather distinctly punctate, the punctures broadly, feebly impressed ; eyes rather large ; antennae nearly as in puldiellus. Prothorax much more than twice as wide as long, polished, not reticulate, the basal lobe abrupt, short, distinct, truncate, the marginal bead obsolete ; punctures sparse, very fine but somewhat distinct, broadly, very feebly impressed. Scutellum nearly twice as wide as long ; sides strongly arcuate toward base, straight near the apex ; angle not appreciably rounded. Elytra finely, transversely strigilate in wavy lines ; sutural bead, discal striae and punctures of the principal series nearly as in jmlchellus, the punctures of the intervals exces- sively minute and feeble, and almost obsolete even toward the sides. Abdomen shining, coarsely reticulate, the lines very fine, very sparsely pubescent. Legs slender ; posterior tarsi extremely slender, the first joint much longer than the entire remainder. Length 1.5 mm. New Jersey ; South Carolina. The metasternum is shining, coarsely reticulate, the lines very fine ; surface very sparsely pubescent, almost impunctate except posteriorly toward the middle, where the punctures are fine and subasperate ; process broad, extending- to the anterior limits of the 00X86, feebly constricted near the apex, the latter broadly, feebly arcuate, the mesosternum before it extremely short, transverse, finely setose, not prominent ; the prosternal process is moderate in width. This species is more narrowly oval and convex than pulchellus, and is very differently colored. 140 Coleopferological Notices. L.. aterriiuus n. sp. — Oval, about two-thirds longer than wide, strongly convex ; sides very feebly convergent behind from near the base of the elytra; intense black throughout above, paler, piceous beneath, the legs and antennae flavate ; shining. Head not reticulate, very minutely and rather sparsely punctate ; eyes moderate ; antennae rather short, third joint elongate, obconi- cal, rather longer than the next two, four to eight very short, compact ; club small and slender, about as long as the preceding seven joints combined, ninth just visibly longer and wider than the tenth, eleventh oval, a very little longer than wide, shorter than the two preceding. Prothorax rather short, more than twice as wide as long, extremely minutely and obsoletely punctate, not at all reticulate, the basal lobe broad and rather strong, the marginal bead almost completely obsolete. Scutellum triangular, two-thirds wider than long. Elytra rather more than three times as long as the prothorax, evenly and somewhat narrowly rounded at the apex ; discal stria; very fine, vanishing at basal third, the first continuous to the apex, the second approaching very near but not joining the first at apical fifth or sixth ; disk coarsely reticulate in very wavy broken lines, having distant regular rows of small widely-spaced crescentiform and very feeble punctures, which become slightly wider and stronger near the sides, the punctures of the intervals almost completely obsolete. Legs mode- rate ; posterior tibiae very slender, cylindrical, the terminal spurs very un- equal and rather long, the corresponding tarsi very slender and cylindrical, the first joint just visibly longer than the remainder. Length 1.2 mm. Florida (Biscayne Bay). Mr. Schwarz. Remarkably distinct in its intense black color and feeble punc- tures. The eyes are, as usual, very coarsely faceted, the facets, however, unusually convex, especially beneath. The nietasternal process is wide and long, extending slightly beyond the coxae, the apex feebly arcuate, the sides parallel, very finely beaded and not at all incurvate ; the mesosternum forms a very thick and even apical bead. In crucigerus and immaculatus the metasternal pro- cess is narrower, the sides being distinctly, although feebly, incur- vate. riTOCHROPUS n. gen. Mentnm slightly wider than long, transversely truncate at apex, the sides strongly lobed just before the middle. Ligula small, narrow and rather short, deeply and distinctly sinuate in the middle at apex, not at all dentate, the paraglossae very small and nearly obsolete. Labial palpi moderate ; first joint slightly longer than wide, distinct, but much shorter and narrower than the second, the latter feebly obconical ; third not strongly compressed, but slightly wider than the second, oblique, dilated toward base, attenuate toward apex, as long as the two preceding combined. Maxillary palpi well developed ; second and third joints obliquely truncate at apex, the latter shorter and not as long as wide ; fourth slightly longer than the preceding three together, not wider than the second, cylindrical in the basal half, feebly narrowed toward Coleopterological Notices. 141 apex in the apical half. Antennae with the club very long and finely, aspe- rately punctate throughout. Prosternal process moderate in width, the apex inflexed and unarmed ; metasternal process rather wide, with the sides parallel, rather long, extending fully to the anterior limits of the coxie, broadly, evenly rounded at apex. Mesosternum in front of the metasternal process forming a very thick, strongly prominent, feebly scabrous and minutely setose marginal bead, which becomes fine along the inner side of the coxae, and is dilated behind the middle acetabula as in Acylomus. Legs slender ; posterior tarsi very slender, cylindrical, nearly as in Litochrus, but with the first joint scarcely four-fifths as long as the entire remainder ; posterior tibial spurs moderate, very slender, decidedly unequal. In the structure of the ligula, labial palpi, and the extension of the mesosternum behind the middle acetabula, this genus differs very greatly from those species which we consider Litochrus and represented hj pulchellus as a type; the basal joint of the posterior tarsi is also distinctly shorter, and the third joint of the latter is very obliquely truncate at apex, the fourth with its ill-defined basal lobe being inserted at the middle of the truncation. Li. SCalptllS n. sp. — Rather broadly oval, piceous-black throughout above ; under surface, legs and antennae very pale flavate ; polished. Head finely, sparsely but rather distinctly punctate ; eyes unusually small ; antennae robust, the club almost as long as the entire remainder, third joint fully as long as the next two together, outer joints of funicle robust and transverse, ninth and tenth subequal in length, eleventh as long as the two preceding. Piothorax very feebly, sparsely and obsoletely punctate, polished ; basal lobe as in Litochrus but more feeble ; marginal bead obsolete. Scutellum ogival, nearly twice as wide as long. Elytra entirely polished, without trace of fine sculpture, having series of long fine transverse scratches, the punctures entirely obsolete, although each of the fine lines has a very minute recumbent hair in the middle, the lines feebler toward base and apex, the series so close that the transverse lines are sometimes continuous laterally ; sutural bead subapical, excessively fine ; discal striae obsolete at basal third, distinct, the first continuous to the apex, the second coincident with the first at apical fourth. Abdomen finely, feebly reticulate, sparsely, coarsely pubescent. Legs moderate in length. Length 1.5-1.7 mm. North Carolina ; District of Columbia. The posterior tibiae, in the males, are slightly more robust than in the females, but there does not seem to be any decided sexual difference in the terminal spurs or tarsi. The remarkable transverse scratches, which are an extreme modi- fication of the ordinary type of transversely crescentic punctures, are peculiar to Litochropus and Ochrolitus, and it is probable that Litochrus globulus Sharp, should be assigned to the present genus. 142 Coleopterological Notices. OCHROLITIJS Sharp. This genus is well distinguished from either of those which pre- cede by the structure of the prosternal process, which is here more developed, projecting beyond the anterior coxae, having the apex free, with an acute edge which is transversely arcuate. The two species described below differ generically. I did not receive the type of tristriatus until a time subsequent to the print- ing of the table of genera, given on page 91, and had previously regarded ritbens as a typical form of the genus; it is therefore undesirable, at present, to create a new genus for the latter species, although this must be doire when the family is monographically revised. The species are very easily distinguishable as follows: — Prosternal process moderate in width, feebly, longitudinally convex, extending but slightly beyond the coxae, the apex moderately dilated, very feebly arcuate, unarmed. Mesosternum not developed behind the middle ace- tabula. First joint of the posterior tarsi much longer than the next two combined. Discal striae three in number tristriatllS Prosternal process wider and longer, jjrojecting distinctly beyond the coxeilS Lee. — Proc. Ac. Phil., 1856, p. 16. — Evenly, moderately broadly oval, strongly convex, polished, bright rufous throughout above and beneath. Head finely, sparsely punotate, polished ; eyes moderate ; antennse moderate, funicle rather slender, outer joints slightly robust, the eighth decidedly wider and rather strongly transverse, third as long as the fourth and fifth, the latter equal, longer than wide, club robust, moderate in length, nearly symmetrical, ninth and tenth joints nearly equal in length, the eleventh as long as the two preceding combined. Prothorax rather long, but slightly more than twice as wide as long, polished, almost completely impunctate ; basal lobe excessively feeble, not abruptly limited, the marginal bead obsolete. Scutellum small, ogival, wider than long. Ehjtra excessively minutely, transversely strigilate in wavy lines toward apex only, covered throughout except toward base with very deep long transverse scratches, which are sometimes broadly angulate at the minute hairs, the punctures rather distinct near the suture ; discal striae strong, obsolete at basal fifth or sixth, the second coincident with the first at apical fourth. Posterior tarsi very slender, cylindrical, the basal joint three- fourths as long as the entire remainder ; tibial spurs well developed, unequal. Length 1.8 mm. North Carolina ; Florida. This is a very distinct species which appears to be rather rare ; 144 Goleopterological Notices. I have seen three specimens. The setas of the prosternal process are not erect as in the Stilbide j^enera, but perfectly porrected. The metasternal process is rather long, moderate in width, projecting almost to the anterior limits of the coxae, the apex truncate, the mesosternum before it abruptly declivous and not in the least prominent. CORYLOPHIDJ^. JENICiMATICUlW Matth. This singular gonus was described by me from some Californian si)eciniens, before the appearance of Mr. Matthews' description in the Biologia Centrali-Americana, but I was somewhat at a loss where to place it, hesitating between the Corylophidie and Latridi- idos. The following species occurs in great abundance near San Fran- cisco, in moist places among the roots of grasses, and T have also shaken it from small shrubs in the vicinity of Oakland. ]Ei» californicillll ii. sp. — Form ratlier slender, dark piceous-brovvn, moderately shining, but without trace of metallic lustre ; pubescence cinere- ous. Head small, subtriangular ; eyes ratlier large, at the base, convex, coarsely faceted ; front emarginate at each side before the eyes, feebly convex, finely, feebly granulose, very finely, feebly, sparsely punctate, each puncture bearing a small subrecumbent hair. Protlwrax two and one-half times as wide as the head, scarcely one-third wider than long, widest at the middle ; sides broadly, evenly rounded in the apical half, feebly convergent, straight and feebly, minutely serrulate thence to the basal angles, which are slightly obtuse but not at all rounded ; apex and base broadly, evenly and feebly arcuate, the latter distinctly the wider , disk feebly, evenly convex, finely subgranulose, slightly alutaceous, rather coarsely, deeply, but somewhat sparsely punctate, finely sparsely pubescent. Scutellum moderate, very strongly transverse, smooth and polished. Eli/tra one-fifth longer than wide, widest near the middle, one-fifth wider and two-thirds longer than the prothorax ; sides broadly arcuate ; apex angularly emarginate, exterior angles rounded ; disk feebly convex, shining, not distinctly alutaceous, very feebly and finely reti- culate, finely, feebly and sparsely punctate; punctures rather obsolete, not arranged in well-defined order ; pubescence v^ry fine and sparse. Leys, antennae and under surface, except the abdomen, much paler, brownish-testa- ceous, the latter piceous-black. Length 0.8-0.9 mm. California (San Mateo and Alameda Cos.). Ditters from the Central American pfilioides Matth. in its larger size, more elongate prothorax, and shining elytra and scutellum. Coleopterological Notices. 145 The fifth antcnnal joint in pfilioides is represented on the plate as being slightly elongate; it is correspondingly transverse in the pre- sent species, and the joint immediately before the club is strongly transverse and not elongate as in pfilioides. The sutural stria is feeble and continuous with the basal stria.' BYRRHID.E. LIMlVICHrS Latr. The species of this genus, although but moderately numerous in the United States, appear to be much more abundant and diversified in structure than their European congeners. Our species have never been fully described, and have been somewhat neglected by systematists. The table given by LeConte (Bull. U. S. Geo!. Surv., Y, p. 515), bears evidence of insufficient observation, and I have not found it of very great service in identifying the species, which in reality are well differentiated. They may be divided as follows into four subgeneric groups, which are perhaps of still greater value. These groups are all distinct from the representatives of the palje- arctic fauna, there being generally no trace whatever of the antennal groove on the superior surface of the head which is such a singular character of Limnichus proper. In all of our subgenera the antennae are perfectly free in repose, although generally pressed closely against the head, and between its surface and the projecting anterior margin of the prothorax. In the first group (Eulimnichus), the last vestige of the groove is visible, being indicated by a minute carina border- ing the sides of the head above the eye, but it can be of no use as a shelter for the antenme in repose: — Pubescence in a single system, ratlier sparsely ilistribnted, subrecumbent, robust and aciculate. Head longitudinally rugulose ; basal joint of antennae in great part con- cealed by tlie acute sides of the front, the emarglnations at the extremi- ties of the epi.stomal suture small. Prosternum grooved ; hypomera flat, not impressed at the inner angle, having a wide prominent polished bead along the inner margin ; margin of the crural excavation acute and cariniform ; acute outer edge minutely and abruptly reflexed at apex. ' Dr. Sharp, who has been kind enough to compare a specimen of this species with the type of ptlUoides in the British Museum, writes me that, although the light at the time was very poor, he has no doubt of the distinctness of ca/i/or- nicum. Annals N. Y. Acad. Sci., V, Feb. 1890.— 10 146 Coleopterological Notices. Scutellum distinct, much longer than wide. Elytral punctures generally distinct, always well separated I Head coarsely, very densely punctate, without trace of longitudinal rugu- lation : basal joint of antennae in great part exposed in the large deep emarginations at the extremities of the epistomal suture. Prosternum grooved ; hypomera very deeply impressed near the inner obtuse angles ; inner polished bead well developed ; crural margin acute and cariniform ; acute outer edge very gradually, feebly sinuate toward the apex. Scutel- lum moderate, slightly longer than wide. Elytral punctures generally coarse and densely placed, cribrate H Head finely, feebly punctate, finely granulose ; basal joint of antennae in great part exposed, the emarginations large. Prosternum not grooved; hypomera fiat, not impressed, without trace of an inner polished bead, the crural margin rounded, not distinctly and abruptly defined by an acute edge, the acute outer edge deflexed at apex. Scutellum large, equi- latero-triangular. Elytral punctures very minute, entirely filled by the hairs. Antennse unusually long and slender Ill Pubescence dual, consisting of very small short confusedly matted and densely- placed hairs near the surface, with fine long erect and much more sparsely- placed hairs interspersed. Scutellum very small, equilatero-triangular, or very nearly so. Prosternum grooved. Crural edge of hypomera acute and cariniform IV The minute reticulation or granulation, especially visible at the sides of the pronotum and on the hypomera and abdomen of groups I, III, and lY, is totally obsolete in group II, and consti- tutes an important differential character of this section of the genus. As a generic character, it should be stated that the epipleur^e are, near the apex, deeply grooved; this is more evident in the first three groups, and becomes very feeble or nearly obsolete in group lY. The species may be distinguished as follows ; — Group I. EuLiMNicHus n. subgen. Pronotum finely reticulate or granulose and more or less alutaceous at the sides. Elytral punctures rather coarse, deep and very distinct, separated by from once to twice their own diameters. Prosternal episterna almost attaining the apex aiialis Prosternal episterna shorter. Abdomen very minutely, sparsely and feebly punctate, not appreciably more coarsely so near the sides ; median groove of pronotum fine but distinct, rather long and terminating at equal distances from base and apex OIlSClll'US Abdomen sparsely but more coarsely punctate, very coarsely and deeply so near the sides ; pronotal groove very short and nearer the base californiciis Coleopterological Notices. 147 Elytral punctures extremoly fine and sparse, separated by from three to five times their own diameters. Elytra and abdomen alutaceous, the latter excessively feebly, minutely punctate, the j^unctures very sparse, scarcely visible and not appreci- ably more distinct laterally ; elytral pubescence very minute and sparse. montaniis Elytra and abdomen strongly shining, the latter very minutely but rather distinctly punctate, the punctures sparse, very slightly larger n<>ar the apex, and less distinctly so near the sides perpolitllS Pronotum highly polished throughout and perfectly devoid of reticulation at the sides. Punctuation of elytra denser, deeply impressed and very distinct ater Punctuation sparser and vei'y feebly impressed, almost invisible near tlie sides and sutui-e Ilitidllllis Group II. LniNicHiTES n. subgen. Abdomen densely, coarsely cribrate ; punctures of the pronotum very dense. Larger species, oval ; sides distinctly arcuate ; punctures of the elytra slightly separated piiuctatlis Smaller species, more oblong, with the sides nearly straight in the middle ; pianctures of the elytra larger, polygonally crowded liell)UloSIIS Abdomen densely, coarsely cribrate toward the sides, but sparsely and much more finely punctate toward the middle and base ; punctures of the pronotum fine in the middle, sparse, those of the elytra rather fine, separated by dis- tinctly more than their own diameters OlivaceilS Abdomen more sparsely punctate ; punctures of the pronotum toward the middle sparse and fine ; punctures of the elytra very narrowly separated. perfoiatiis Group III. LicHiiixus n. subgen. Ovate, pointed behind ; pubescence rather fine, recumbent, moderately dense, dark brown in color tenuicoriiis Group IV. LniJficHODERUs n. subgen. Abdomen completely devoid of punctures ;i each elytron with a subapical and two lateral submedian indefinite patches of paler pubescence. iiaTiciilatiis 1 In this subgenus the abdomen is always rendered more or less dull by an extremely minute rugose reticulation. The punctures here referred to are entirely distinct from this ; they are deep and perforate, and distributed generally somewhat unevenly over the surface. 148 Cohoptei^ological Notices. Abdomen very finely and sparsely punctate. Elytral punctures coarse, denser, the pubescence extremely dense and the lustre dull liitrochinus Elytral punctures finer, more sparse, the surface much more shining. Elytral pubescence very short, even ; abdominal punctures visible through- out the width, equal and very sparse throughout sei'iatllS Elytral pubescence longer and more shaggy ; abdominal punctures com- pletely absent toward the sides of the last three segments, very fine and sparse but visible in the middle toward base ; abdomen rather less dull. OTatiis Abdomen coarsely and densely punctate, especially toward the sides, the punc- tures rather sparser toward the middle ; black, polished ; pubescence very easily abraded, less dense puiictiTentris I>. aiialis Lee— Bull. U. S. Geol. Surv., 1879, V, p. 515.— Oval, strongly rounded behind, nearly twice as long as wide, widest at the middle, black throughout, shining ; pubescence somewhat dense, moderate in length, sub- recumbent, evenly distributed, feebly mottled cinereous and fulvous, the hairs robust and strongly aciculate. Head strongly and deeply punctate ; punctures longitudinally coalescent, forming fine strong somewliat interlacing rugffi ; lateral supraorbital ridges fine and strong. Prolhorax more than twice as wide as long ; sides straight, strongly narrowed from base to apex, the latter two-thirds as wide as the former ; basal lobe strong, truncate ; surface nearly as in californkus, the punctures slightly denser. Scutellum three- fourths longer than wide, flat, finely, sparsely punctate ; sides and base broadly arcuate. Elytra four times as long as the prothorax and scarcely one- fourth wider ; surface shining, very obsoletely reticulate ; punctures moderate, deep but variolate, separated by about 02ie and one-half times their own widths. Prosternum shining, finely and very sparsely punctate, the punc- tures larger and nearly twice as dense anteriorly ; median impressed groove strong, obsolete at anterior fifth ; episterna clearly limited within throughout their length, almost absolutely attaining the apex ; hypomera flat, not per- ceptibly impressed at the inner angle, minutely, strongly reticulate, alutace- ous, very finely, sparsely punctate. Abdomen rather sparsely punctate, finely, strongly granalato-reticulate laterally and toward base, the segments polished toward apex, the fifth polished, deeply, coarsely cribrate, impressed and densely pubescent near the apex. Length 2.3 mm. Texas ; Arizona ; California. The largest species of the g-enus, related somewhat to calif ornicus, but differing in its denser pubescence and punctuation, and in the extent of the prosternal side-pieces; the prothorax at base is rela- tively wider, the elytra at the humeri not being rather abruptly wider and somewhat prominent as in californicus. Coleopterological Notices. 14i) L,. Obsctirus Lee. — Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., VII, p. 116. — Evenly oval, strongly I'onnded behind, widest near the middle, conv^ex, shining ; pubescence sparse, fine, subrecumbent, short and moderately robust ; color black throughout. Head finely, longitudinally rugulose, the rugae rather feeble and confusedly interlacing, the intervals minutely granulose and finely punctate ; supra-orbital carinse very feeble, depressed below the general surface of the front. Prothorat much more than twice as wide as long ; sides very feebly arcuate ; apex nearly three-fourths as wide as the base, the latter broadly and moderately sinuate at each side of the median lobe, the latter moderately prominent ; surface minutely reticulate, feebly so in the middle, strongly so and almost granulose laterally, rather distinctly and sparsely punctate. Scutellum of the usual form. Eljtra with the sides evenly, feebly arcuate and perfectly coarctate with the sides of the prothorax ; sculpture nearly as in montanus, each puncture surrounded by a series of distinct reticu- lations, shining ; punctures small, not deeply impressed, sej^arated by more than twice their own widths. Prosternum sparsely punctate, the median groove wide, deep and approaching the apical margin to within one-sixth or one-seventh the entire length ; episterna clearly limited within throughout, approaching the apex to within one-half their own length, not visibly ijunc- tate ; hypomera nearly fiat, finely reticulate and alutaceous throughout, very finely and sparsely punctate. Abdomen finely reticulate, finely and sparsely punctate, the fifth segment impressed and densely pubescent near the apex. Length 2.1 mm. New York. Cab. LeConte. Greatly resembles montanus in outline and sculpture, but differ- ing in its coarser punctuation, longer and coarser pubescence, and very much longer and wider prosternal groove. It cannot be classed at all with atei% with which it was united by LeConte, differing in size, form, sculpture, punctuation and pubescence to a very marked degree. L.. californicus Lee— Bull. U. S. Geol. Surv., 1879, V, p. 515.— Ellip- tical, nearly twice as long as wide, strongly rounded at apex, widest at tlie middle, black, rather strongly shining. Head very deeply and rather coarsely punctate, the punctures completely coalescent longitudinally, forming deep and almost regular rugse. Prothorax nearly two and one-half times as wide as long ; sides convergent from base to apex and nearly straight ; median basal lobe strong, truncate ; disk finely granulato-reticulate, strongly so and aluta- ceous near the sides, very feebly so and polished toward the middle ; punctures fine and sparse throughout ; median impression feeble, only visible in the basal half. Scutellum nearly two-thirds longer than wide, flat, pointed ; sides and base feebly arcuate. Elytra nearly four times as long as the prothorax, and, at basal third, nearly one-third wider, polished ; reticulations almost obsolete throughout ; punctures impressed, moderate in size, distinct, sepa- rated by fully twice their own widths. Prosternum finely, very sparsely 150 Coleopterological Notices. punctate, having a wide deeply-impressed groove which becomes obsolete at anterior third ; episterna not attaining the apex by nearly one-half their own length, clearly limited within throughout ; hypomera flat, strongly reticulate, alntaceous, finely and sparsely punctate, the inner polished marginal bead moderate in width. Abdomen finely reticulate, shining ; punctures moderate, sparse ; pubescence short, setose and sparse, the last segment flat, with a densely pubescent median area. Length 1.7-1.9 mm. California (Mendocino, Santa Clara and Los Angeles Cos.). The pubescence is rather short, sparse, pale fulvo-cinereous in color, robust, acutely pointed and subrecumbent. This is a very common species throughout western California. JL. Iliontanus Lee. — Bull. U. S. Geol. Surv., V, 1879, p. 514. — Almost evenly oval, strongly rounded at apex, a little less than twice as long as wide, black throughout, subalutaceous ; pubescence very short, subrecumbent, very sparse, cinereous, apparently easily abraded, not conspicuous. Head with fine longitudinal rugse, the concave intervals more minutely and feebly rugulose, and with small distant punctures ; lateral carina fine but strong. Prothorax more- than twice as wide as long ; sides very feebly arcuate ; apex about two- thirds as wide as the base, the basal lobe strong, with the apex sinuous, fitting the base of the scutellum ; surface finely granulose laterally, more polished in the middle, rather finely and sparsely punctate ; median groove very fine, short. Scutellum one-half longer than wide ; sides and base very distinctly arcuate, the surface very minutely and sparsely punctate. Elytra rather less than four times as long as the prothorax, and, at basal third, about one-fifth wider ; sides very distinctly, evenly arcuate and coarctate with the sides of the prothorax ; surface finely, sparsely punctate ; punctures round, shallow, not impressed, separated by at least three times their own widths. Presternum polished, very finely and sparsely punctate, slightly more coarsely and closely so anteriorly ; median groove narrow, very deep posteriorly, becoming more feeble anteriorly and obsolete at apical fourth ; episterna distinctly limited within throughout, not attaining the apex by about one-third of their own length ; hypomera flat, not impressed at the inner angle, finely, strongly reticulate, alutaceous, minutely, sparsely and not distinctly punctate ; inner bead strong. Abdomen very finely, densely reticulate throughout, minutely and very sparsely punctate ; fifth segment with a very small impression just behind the ajjical margin, the pubescence of the central area coarse, short and not very dense. Length 2.0 mm. Colorado (La Yeta). Mr. Schwarz. Cab. LeConte. The sculpture of the elytra is peculiar, although merely an inten- sification of the normal sculpture in this section of the genus. Each puncture is surrounded by a series of six flat reticulations, the series contiguous externalh', the outer bounding lines being hexagonal. This is a remarkably distinct species. Goleopterological Notices. 151 I.. perpolitllS n. sp. — Almost evenly elliptical, rather pointed behind, almost twice as long as wide, black throughout, highly polished. Head strongly, longitudinally rugose, the intervals finely, sparsely pubescent and punctate ; cariniform upper margins of the eye pronounced, the small dorsal fovea immediately before the eye very deep. Prothorax much more than twice as wide as long ; sides nearly straight ; apex two-thirds as wide as the base, the latter strongly sinuate at each side of the median lobe which is well developed ; surface polished, excessively obsoletely reticulate in the middle, strongly so and slightly alutaceous at the sides ; median groove short, feeble, broadly impressed ; disk very minutely, sparsely punctate and pubescent. Seutellum nearly one-half longer than wide, minutely, sparsely punctate; sides and base arcuate. Elytra not quite four times as long as the prothorax ; sides very evenly and distinctly arcuate and coarctate with the sides of the prothorax, the humeri not in the least prominent ; surface very highly polished ; punctures very minute and feebly impressed, separated by from four to five times their own widths ; pubescence very fine, short and sparse, silvery-cinereous throughout, not conspicuous. Prosternum finely, very sparsely punctate ; median impressed groove nearly equal in width throughout, obsolete at apical fifth or sixth ; episterna distinctly limited within through- out, almost attaining tlie apex ; hypomera transversely, feebly convex, finely reticulate, not impressed, very finely, feebly and sparsely punctate through- out, the polished bead forming the inner margin very strong. Abdomen finely reticulate laterally toward base, not at all reticulate and polished at apex, finely, sparsely punctate, a small pubescent area near the apex of the fifth segment densely and deeply punctate, not impressed but with the apical edge reflexed. Length 1.7-1.9 mm. Texas (Austin); New Mexico CAlbuquerque). Mr. Wickham. A very distinct species in its extremely minute, sparse punctua- tion and pubescence, and higlily polished upper surface. L.. ater Lee. — Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., VII, p. 117. — Oval, about two- thirds longer than wide, widest near the middle, rather acutely pointed behind, black, polished ; pubescence coarse, rather long, subrecumbent, moderately dense, in great part fulvous. Head with fine, rather feeble, longitudinal rugre ; intervals finely punctate ; pubescence abundant, suberect. Prothorax about two and one-half times as wide as long ; sides nearly straight ; apex two-thirds as wide as the base, the latter deeply sinuate at each side of the moderate median lobe ; surface highly polished throughout, without trace of granulation or reticulation even near the sides, rather coarsely and sparsely punctate. Seutellum one-half longer than wide. Elytra at the humeri rather abruptly but slightly wider than the prothorax, about four times as long as the latter, and one-fourth wider ; sides evenly arcuate ; surface rather coarsely and deeply punctate, the punctures impressed and separated by nearly their own widths. Prosternum somewhat coarsely and sparsely punctate, the median groove rather feeble, vanishing at apical fourth ; episterna small, deeply, coarsely punctate, not clearly limited within anteriorly, and coming very far 152 Coleopterological Notices. from attaining tlie apex, the distance thence being equal to their own length ; liypoinera nearly fiat, finely but rather feebly reticulate, polished near the exterior margin, rather coarsely, deeply and somewhat densely punctate, the punctures becoming much finer and sparser near tlie external margin. Abdomen somewhat shining, very finely and sparsely punctate ; fifth segment not visibly impressed, the pubescence fine and dense in the middle. Length 1.8 mm. North Carolina; Florida; Louisiana. This species very greatly resem))Ies califormcus in size and out- line, but differs conspicuously in the pubescence, -which is much longer and more robust; it is also more coarsely and closely punc- tate, and the sculpture of the pronotum is very different — its strong polish, without granulation, near the sides being a very decisive character. L.. nitidlllus Lee. — Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., VII, p. 117. — Evenly oval, widest in the middle, nearly twice as long as wide, rather acutely jjointed behind, black throughout ; pubescence long and robust, subrecumbent, some- what sparse but conspicuous. Head with fine longitudinal rugae, rather densely pubescent ; lateral ridges slightly prominent. Prothorux polished throughout, not reticulate near the sides, sparsely and somewhat coarsely punctate ; punc- tures in the middle separated by from two to three times their own widths ; median groove very short and feeble. Scutellum small, about one-third longer than wide, highly polished and very minutely, feebly and sparsely punctate. Ehjtra not quite four times as long as the prothorax, about one-third wider ; sides strongly arcuate, coarctate with the sides of tlie prothorax ; surface polished : punctures rather large but feeble, separated by about twice their own widths. Prosternum rather sparsely punctate, coarsely so anteriorly, finely posteriorly ; median groove strongly impressed, obsolete at anterior fourth ; ei)isterna abruptly limited within throughout, approaching the apical margin to within one-half their own length ; hypomera flat, not impressed, finely, strongly reticulate, with a few coarse punctures near the inner marginal bead, elsewhere finely, sparsely punctate. Abdomen finely reticulate, finely, sparsely pubescent ; jjunctures moderate in size, rather deeply impressed, somewhat sparse, dense on the last segment which is not impressed, and with the pubescent area not well marked. Length 1.6 mm. Georgia. Cab. LeConte. A small species, remarkable for its relatively long, very coarse pubescence, and polished surface. The punctures of the fifth ventral segment are, as usual, very deep and perforate. Li. pillictatus Lee. — Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Pliila., VII, p. 116. — Oval, strongly rounded beliind, about three-fourths longer than wide, widest in tlie middle ; sides distinctly arcuate ; black, densely pubescent in feeble mottling Coleopterological Notices. 153 of cinereous and fulvons ; integuments polished. Head coarsely, very densely, evenly cribrate ; supra-oi"bital carinse almost completely obsolete. Prothorux iniicli more than twice as wide as long ; sides feebly, evenly arcuate ; apex nearly three-fourths as wide as the base, the latter sinuate at each side of the wide and prominent median lobe ; surface polished, not at all reticulate at the sides, coarsely, deeply, very densely punctate ; hairs very robust, not growing from the punctures but each attached at the margin of a puncture ; median groove fine, distinct, slightly nearer the base than the apex. Scutellum moderate, very slightly longer than wide, pointed, densely punctate ; sides and base strongly arcuate. Eli/tra about three and one-half times as long as the prothorax and scarcely one-fifth wider ; sides coarctate with those of the prothorax ; surface polished, very coarsely and densely punctate ; punctures very deep, perforate and separated by less than one-half their own diameters. Prosternum polished, coarsely punctate, the punctures separated by about twice their own widths ; median groove long and strong ; episterna not dis- tinctly defined anteriorly ; hypomera polished throughout, coarsely, very densely punctate, deeply impressed near the inner obtuse angle ; inner mar- ginal bead distinct ; inner posterior edge forming the margin of the crural exca- vation abrupt, acute and cariniform. Abdomen polished throughout, coarsely, very densely and deeply punctate, the punctures polygonally crowded ; fifth segment convex, not impressed, more densely pubescent in the middle ; pubes- cence throughout rather long, fine, and pale silvery-cinereous. Length 1.8 mm. Pennsylvania — Cab. LeConte. Texas. A well-raai-ked species of wide distribution, van'ing considerably in size, but not otherwise to any noticeable extent. L.. liebulosus Lee. — Bull. U. S. Geol. Surv., V, p. .515. — Oblong-oval, strongly rounded behind ; sides nearly straight in the middle ; black, polished throughout; pubescence rather long, subrecumbent, very robust, somewhat dense, confusedly mottled cinereous and fulvous. Hmd extremely coarsely and densely cribrate, the punctures very deep and polygonally crowded ; supra-orbital ridges entirely obsolete. Prothorax much more than twice as wide as long; sides distinctly although feebly arcuate; apex"" nearly three- fourths as wide as the base, the latter sinuate on each side of the median lobe which is moderate ; median groove very short, feeble ; surface extremely densely, coarsely cribrate, the punctures polygonally crowded, and only two- thirds as wide as those of the elytra. Scutellum moderate, very slightly longer than wide, densely, coarsely cribrate, slightly convex ; sides and base arcuate. Elytra but very slightly wider than the prothorax, extremely densely cribrate, the punctures very coarse and deep, polygonally crowded, the lines of separation being but one-fourth or one-fifth as wide as the punctures. Pro- sternum coarsely but much more sparsely punctate, the median groove very wide and deeply excavated, extending almost to the apical margin ; episterna not at all defined toward apex internally, polished, impiinctate ; hypomera extremely deeply impressed or excavated near the inner obtuse angle, polished, very coarsely, deeply and densely punctate ; inner marginal bead very strong 154 Coleopterological Notices. throughout ; outer acute edge very feebly and gradually reflexed near the apex. Abdomen coarsely, very densely cribrate, the punctures polygonally crowded ; pubescence very fine, not conspicuous, that of the pubescent area of the last segment very short and fine, the same segment convex, not im- pressed. Length 1.7 mm. California (San Bernardino), LeConte ; Texas (Austin) Auct. The exceedingly coarsely and densely cribrate upper surface, and coarse mottled pubescence will at once distinguish this very inter- esting- species. L.. olivaceus Lee. — Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., VII, p. 116. — Oval, con- vex, in form and color nearly as in putictatns; pvibescence confusedly mottled cinereous and fulvous, rather sparser than in pundatus; integuments polished. Head rather coarsely, very deeply and evenly punctate, the punctures dense but distinctly separated. Prothorax rather more than twice as wide as long, the basal lobe narrow but well developed, truncate ; sides feebly, evenly arcuate ; median impressed groove distinct but not extending much in advance of the centre ; punctures equal in size to those of the elytra and equally sparse. Elytra nearly four times as long as the prothorax ; sides distinctly, broadly arcuate, toward base coarctate with those of the prothorax ; apex rather acute ; surface very evenly, rather sparsely punctate, the punctiires round, deep and perforate, separated by one-half more than their own diameters. Prosternum shining, deeply grooved, strongly punctate, the punctures separated by their own widths ; femora very coarsely, deeply punctate, the metasternum much more sparsely so. Abdomen coarsely and very densely punctate toward the sides, much more finely so — the punctures separated by more than three times the distance — toward the middle and base. Length 2.1 mm. Michigan (Detroit). Mr. Schwarz. The form described by LeConte as olivaceus has given rise to more or less divergence of opinion. Henshaw in his list of the species described by J. L. LeConte (p. 230), states that it is a valid species. Dr. LeConte in his most recently published table of the genus (Bull. U. S. Geol. Surv., Y, 1879, p. 515) unites it in synonymy with punctatus, and Henshaw in his check-list of North American Coleoptera, appears to coincide with this opinion. I have personally examined the specimen in the cabinet of LeConte which bears the type label, and find that it is absolutely identical with the type of pundatus, the punctuation being fully as dense as in that species. Schwarz has taken in abundance at Detroit, Mich., a species — described above — which is allied to, but certainly distinct from, pundatus, having the elytral punctuation decidedl}^ sparser but not quite as coarse ; it is the opinion of Mr. Schwarz that this is the true olivaceus. Coleopterological Notices. 155 I leave this subject, therefore, with the opinion that the specimen labeled oHvaceus in the cabinet of LeConte, is not the orig-inal type, and further that the specimens from Detroit may fairly be assumed to represent that species ; the latter seems, at least, a better course to pursue than to frive this undoubtedly valid species a new name, based upon an uncertainty of identification. L.. perforatlis n. sp. — Form oblong-oval, strongly rounded behind, rather less than twice as long as wide ; sides nearly straight in the middle ; black : pubescence very coarse, somewhat dense, feebly mottled cinereous and fulvous ; integuments polished throughout. Head very coarsely, deeply and densely punctate, the punctures on the flat vertical front tending to coalesce in a subtransverse, slightly posterior direction from the median line. Prothorax more than twice as wide as long ; sides feebly, evenly but very distinctly arcuate ; apex more than two-thirds as wide as the base, the basal lobe mode- rate in width, prominent ; median gi'oove short, broadly, feebly impressed and not very distinct ; surface rather finely, sparsely punctate, the punctures much less than one-half as wide as those of the elytra, and separated by twice their own widths, coarser and denser toward the sides. Scutellum moderate, slightly convex, just visibly longer than wide ; sides very strongly arcuate ; base feebly so ; basal angles rounded ; surface rather sparsely and finely punctate. Elytra bi;t slightly more than three times as long as the prothorax and scarcely per- ceptibly wider, very coarsely, deeply and densely punctate, the punctures separated by one-half their own widths. Prosternum polished, extremely finely and sparsely punctate throughout ; median groove narrowly but deeply impressed, continuous almost throughout the entire length ; episterna ap- proaching the apex within two-thirds their own length, abruptly limited within except near the anterior angle, impuuctate ; hypomera very strongly impressed near the inner angle, polished, rather coarsely punctate, the punc- tures separated by about twice their own diameters ; inner bead strongly developed. Abdomen in the middle not very coarsely punctate, the punctures separated by twice their own widths, coarser and slightly closer near the sides, polygonally crowded on the last segment which is not impressed and with the pubescence dense in the middle. Length 1.7 mm. California (Santa Clara Co.). This species is distinguished by its remarkably sparse and fine punctuation of the prothorax, above and beneath, for this section of the genus, and contrasting remarkably with the very coarse dense punctuation of the elytra. The abdomen is much more sparsely punctate than in any of the other species of this subgenus. \j. teiiuicorilis n. sp. — Ovoidal, pointed behind, about three-fourths longer than wide, widest near the middle, black, moderately shining ; pubes- 156 Coleopterological Notices. cence moderate in length and density, nniforraly dark fulvous throughout. Head finely and strongly granulato-reticulate, feebly convex, finely, feebly, somewhat sparsely and not distinctly punctate ; epistoma more coarsely and densely so ; epistomal suture fine ; lateral antennal emarginations deep, ex- posing the entire basal joint of the antennje which is large. Pr othor a x mwdh more than twice as wide as long ; sides very feebly arcuate ; apex two-thirds ' as wide as the base, the latter sinuate at each side of tlie basal lobe which is broad and feeble ; median groove entirely obsolete ; surface minutely reticulate, very strongly so near the sides, excessively obsoletely so in the middle ; jjunc- tures very fine and sparse. Scutellum large, equilatero-triangular ; sides and base straight. Elytra scarcely four times as long as the prothorax and about one-third wider ; sides strongly arcuate and coarctate with those of the pro- thorax ; surface finely but rather feebly reticulate, the reticulations forming polygonal rings about the punctures, the latter very minute, each in the centre of a small reticulation, and entirely filled by the hair arising therefrom, rather sparsely and evenly distributed. Prosternum transversely convex, without trace of impressed groove, very minutely, sparsely punctate, reticulate later- ally ; episternum small, not approaching the apex by its own length, very abruptly and clearly lindted ; hypomera flat, reticulate, not impressed, very minutely sparsely punctate, without trace of inner marginal bead. Abdomen finely and strongly reticulate throughout, finely, sparsely punctate, the last segment more densely so ; pubescence rather long, coarse and sparse, denser in the middle of the last segment which is not at all impressed, the apex with a broad shallow emargination. Length 1.8 mm. California (Hoopa Yalley, Humboldt Co.). For the present this species may be considered the type of a sub- genus of Limnichus, but it is almost unquestionably of higher value, the unimpressed prosternum, long antenna3, and large equilateral scutellum distinguishing it at once from any of the others. If it is considered generically distinct, however, the lutrochinus group must also be separated on other, but equally decisive characters. L,. iiaTiculatus n. sp. — Almost evenly oval, about three-fourths longer than wide, acutely rounded but not pointed behind, convex, rufo-castaneous above, slightly paler rufo-ferruginous beneath, feebly shining. Head rather convex, excessively minutely, moderately densely punctate. Prothorax small, fully two and one-half times as wide as long; sides straight; apex nearly three-fourths as wide as the base ; basal lobe rather short and feeble ; disk extremely minutely and moderately densely punctate, the median groove com- pletely obsolete. Scutellum small, flat, equilatero-triangular. Elytra fully four times as long as the prothorax and one-third wider ; sides strongly, evenly arcuate and coarctate with those of the prothorax ; surface polished, not reticulate, the larger punctures — bearing the longer hairs — small, perfo- rate, separated by from four to five times their own diameters, the minute Coleopterolofjical Notices. 157 recumbent pubescence easily I'emovable, and leaving merely a minnte sitper- ficial scar. Prosternnm not distinctly punctate, minutely, feebly scabrous and alutaceous, the median groove deep but narrow ; episterna transverse, short, the inner marginal line distinct, broadly arcuate ; metasternum with the per- forate punctures about equal in size to those of the elytra, and separated by about three times tlieir own widths. Abdomen dull, excessively minutely, densely pubescent, the perforate punctures completely wanting. Legs mode- rate ; inteiniediate tarsi short, about one-half as long as the tibiae, but with the second joint rather longer than wide. Length 1.5 mm. Texas. U. S. National Museum. In its entirely impunetate abdomen this species differs from any other of the subgenus; it somewhat resembles ovatua, but differs in its more elongate form and in its coarser elytral punctures, these being about tAvice as large as in that species. The longer hairs of the elytra in ovatus are longer than in navicvlatus, and the short appressed ones much sparser. In ovatus there is no trace of macu- lation, whereas in the present species the pubescence is paler at three indefinite lateral spots on each elytron, giving, under extremely low power, the appearance of three imperfect transverse fasciae ; in the former the intermediate tarsi are nearly two-thirds as long as the tibia?. L.. lutrocllinilS Lee. — Bull. U. S. Geol. Surv., V. p. 515. — Ovoidal, gradually pointed behind, nearly twice as long as wide, widest ntar the middle, piceous-brown, very densely pubescent ; integuments shining. Head linely and very sparsely punctate. Prothorax more than twice as wide as long ; sides straiglit ; apex two-thirds as wide as the base; median lobe small, dis- tinct ; median groove obsolete ; surface shining, very feebly i-eticnlate near the sides, not very coarsely, very sparsely punctate, with the interspaces much more minutely, densely punctate. Scutellum small, slightly longer than wide, feebly convex, densely pubescent ; sides and base feebly arcuate. Elijtra about three and one-half times as long as the prothorax ; sides distinctly arcuate and nearly coarctate with those of the prothorax, the humeri alniotit impunetate and slightly, longitudinally tumid ; surface rather coarsely, sparsely punctate ; punctures perforate and separated by from three to four times their own diameters ; interspaces polished, the minute recumbent hairs not arising from definite punctures. Prosternnm shining, minutely and not very densely punctate, much more densely punctate and alutaceons anteriorly ; median groove fine, extending nearly to the apex ; episterna short, broadly triangular, clearly limited within throughout, the inner margin arcuate ; hypomera flat, not impressed, minutely, densely reticulate, dull, minutely, densely pubescent, not visibly punctate ; inner bead wide, flat, polished ; edge of the crural cavity acute and cariniform. Abdomen very dull, rather finely, very sparsely punctate, the interspaces excessively minutely, densely punc- 158 Coleopterological Notices. tate and pubescent ; last segment not impressed, having longer and more con- spicuous pubescence. Length 1.5 mm. Texas. Cab. LeConte, Belfrage and Schwarz. The dual nature of the pubescence has been referred to as a group character, and has not been mentioned in the description. The longitudinal groove in the elytral epipleurse near the apex is very fine, and less developed than in group I. I., seriatus n. sp. — Oval, convex, about three-fourths longer than wide, rather gradually pointed behind, castaneous above, rufo-ferruginous beneath, feebly shining. Head convex, extremely minutely and rather densely punc- tate. Prothorax a little more than twice as wide as long ; sides nearly straight ; apex fully three-fourths as wide as the base ; basal lobe small, rather feeble ; disk excessively minutely, feebly, rather densely punctate, the median groove completely obsolete. Scutellum very small, slightly longer than wide, acutely pointed; sides straight ; surface minutely, feebly reticulate. ^/_(/^ro four times as long as the prothorax and nearly two-fifths wider ; sides feebly arcuate anteriorly and not coarctate with those of the prothorax, the width at the humeri being distinctly greater than the base of the latter ; surface polished, not reticulate, very minutely punctate, the punctures about as large as those of ocatus, and separated by from four to five times their own diameters, some- what unevenly distributed. Prosternum rather dull but not punctate, the median groove fine but deep and distinct ; metasternum strongly and sparsely punctate, the punctures decidedly larger than those of the elytra, and sepa- rated by about three times their own widths. Abdojnen finely, sparsely punc- tate, the punctures perforate, scarcely as large as those of the metasternum, but rather larger than those of the elytra, separated by from four to five times their own widths ; fifth segment entirely impunctate, except a single line of punctures along the base. Intermediate tarsi nearly two-thirds as long as the tibiae, the joints two to four very short, transverse and oblique, almost exactly equal. Length 1.2 mm. Florida. Mr. Schwarz. The large hairs of the elytra are but slightly longer than the fine short subappressed ones, and are entirely inconspicuous; there are, however, on each elytron four series of long erect white setae which are very widely spaced ; these contrast strongly with the general vestiture, when viewed under light coming horizontally along the axis of the body and from the front. I have not noticed these setae in any other species, although they probably exist, and are simply more prominent in the present case because of the extraordinary shortness of the general pubescence. This last character will easily distinguish sei'iatus from ovatus. The elytral pubescence is fulvous in color and entirely devoid of maculation. Coleopterological Notices. 159 L.. ovatlis Lee. — Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., VII, p. 117. — Evenly ovate, rather acutely pointed behind ; sides strongly arcuate ; piceous-black above, slightly paler, piceous, beneath ; legs and antennse dark rufo-testaceous ; integuments polished throughout above ; pubescence very conspicuous, pale brown. Head convex, very finely, sparsely punctate, iwlished ; epistomal suture deep and strong ; epistoma scabrous and dull. Prothorax two and one- half times as wide as long ; sides straight ; apex rather more than two-thirds as wide as the base ; basal lobe small and feeble ; surface polished, slightly scabi'ous and reticulate at the sides near the apical angles, finely, sparsely punctate, the intervals excessively minutely and feebly punctate ; median groove obsolete. Scutellum very small, equilatero-triangular, flat ; sides and base straight, the former arcuate near the base. Elytra nearly four times as long as the prothorax and one fourth wider ; sides evenly rather strongly arcuate and coarctate with those of the prothorax ; humeri not distinctly tumid ; surface polished, very finely, sparsely punctate ; punctures perforate, distant by from four to six times their own diameters ; interspaces as in lutrochinus. Prosternum shining behind, dull near the apex ; median groove fine, distinct, attaining neither the anterior nor posterior margin ; episterna very short and broad, polished, clearly limited, the inner margin strongly arcuate ; hypomera flat, not impressed, dull, not visibly punctate, inner polished bead flat, short, the margin of the crural excavation finely acute and cariniform, and much longer than the beaded side. Abdomen strongly opaque, minutely, sparsely punctate ; last segment with scarcely denser pubescence. Length 1.3 mm. Southern States. Cab. LeConte. The systematic relationship of this small species may readily be seen from the table; it is more convex and less oblong than seriatus, with the sides more strongly arcuate, and the prothorax relatively narrow^er and more strongly narrowed from base to apex. Li. puiictiventris n. sp. — Evenly oval, two-thirds longer than wide, convex, black above, dark rufous beneath, rather strongly shining. Head convex, extremely minutely, somewhat densely punctate. Prothorax small, more than twice as wide as long ; sides nearly straight ; apex three-fourths as wide as the base, the basal lobe small, not very prominent ; surface very minutely, feebly punctate ; pubescence rather sparse ; median groove obsolete ; along the apical margin there is a series of minute granulations, in advance of which the marginal surface is thin, semicoriaceous and polished. Scutellum small, equilatero-triangular ; sides straight ; surface polished. Elytra fully four times as long as the prothorax ; sides distinctly arcuate and almost coarctate with those of the prothorax, the humeri being but just visibly prominent ; disk very minutely punctate, the punctures unevenly distributed, and separated by from three to six times their own widths, but generally about four, becoming much coarser but not denser toward the sides ; minute pubes- cence rather long, coarse and not extremely dense, the longer hairs sparse, although decidedly longer. Prosternum feebly shining, more polished poste- 160 CoJeopferoIogical Notices. riorly ; median groove very fine but distinct and almost entire ; metasternum shining, very finely, sparsely punctate, the punctures perforate, not larger than those of the sides of the elytra, but rather coarser and denser laterally, separated by from three to five times their own widths. Abdomen more coarsely and very deeply punctate, the punctures very dense laterally, where they are separated by about their own widths, rather finer and distinctly sparser toward the middle, the fifth segment almost completely impunctate except near the base. Length 1.3 mm. Florida. Mr. Schvvarz. The rather shining surface, black color and coarser, very dense abdominal punctuation will render the identification of this species very easy. The series of longer coarser sette on the elytra, men- tioned under seriatus, are represented here by the marginal series PHYSEMUS Lee. Regarding the relationship of the three genera Bothriopborus, Physemus and Ditaphrus, the following observations may prove interesting. In the remarks appended to the original description of Ditaphrus (Bull. Cal. Acad. Sci., II, pp. 250-25.3), the reasons were given for the separation of the genus from Physemus ; they were based solely upon the original description of the latter as given by Dr. LeConte. After the publication of Ditaphrus the suspicion of its identity with Physemus continued to grow upon me, until I determined to dis- cover the truth if possible by actual observation. I accordingly made a journey at considerable expense from San Francisco to Yuma, incidentally for the purpose of collecting Coleoptera, but especially to rediscover the species Physemus minutvs. Knowing the haunts of Bitajjln-us sci/mnoides in Texas, I did not have to search long before finding LeConte's species in numbers, moving slowly over the surface of moist adobe mud, under debris of fallen leaves. An examination at once revealed the fact — as I had antici- pated— that the two genera are identical in every point of structure, and that the species also are the same, although presenting very slight differences in size and vestiture. Wishing to carry the investigation a step further I have procured from M. Desbrochers des Loges, a specimen of the European Both- riopborus Muls., and find on examination that, while resembling Physemus very closely, it differs decidedly in antennal structure. Coleopterological Notices. IGl If the student will have before him the figure of the antenna of Phjsenuis (1. c. plate), he can more readily appreciate the differences as indicated in the following description : — First six joints somewhat similar to the same in Physemus. Seventh joint slender, cylindrical, nearly twice as long as wide ; eighth just visibly wider than the seventh and one-half as long, triangular, the vertex of the angle directed anteriorly, the posterior side straight ; ninth triangular, transverse, the angle on the anterior side, the posterior side nearly straight, scarcely longer and one-half wider than the eighth ; tenth almost evenly obtrapezoidal, scarcely longer than the ninth but distinctly wider, two-thirds wider than long, closely joined to the eleventh throughout the width; eleventh ovoidal, pointed, slightly wider than the tenth, two-thirds longer than wide, slightly longer than the two preceding joints combined and more densely pubescent. It will be seen, therefore, that the two genera are quite distinct in antennal structure, the one having a two-jointed, and the other a three-jointed club. The species — B. atomus Muls. — is somewhat smaller and more finely and very much more feebly punctate than Physemus minu- tus Lee. PARNID.E. THROSCIIVUS Lee. Elongate-elliptical, convex, punctate, pubescent. Head deflexed ; eyes and labruui visible in repose ; epistomal suture fine, straight ; epistoma trans- versely truncate at apex ; labrum large, transverse, convex, broadly, feebly sinuate at apex ; antennae inserted at the sides of the front, base not concealed, 11-jointed ; basal joint twice as long as the second and much more robust ; last six joints broader, forming a very elongate, slender, perfoliate club; last joint of the maxillary palpi elongate, slender, acuminate, with a minute apical process. Prosternum large, truncate anteriorly ; process very wide, with two fine lateral carinas which extend diverging anteriorly for more than one-half the distance from the coxse to the anterior margin, not grooved in the middle, the apex broadly arcuate, received in a very broad shallow emargination of the mesosternum ; the latter very short, widely separating the coxae ; meta- sternum large ; episterna narrow ; posterior coxae widely separated, flat above, sulcate beneath, triangular, prominent internally, only extending to the meta- sternal epimera. Anterior and intermediate legs rather short, simple ; tarsi all moderate in length, free, slender ; four basal joints short, subequal ; fifth as long as the three preceding together. Epipleurae very narrow posteriorly, broader, flat and sinuous toward base, not at all excavated or impressed for the intermediate femora, the basal margin closely fitted throughout its width to the hypomera ; the latter wide, flat, separated from the prosternal side- Aknals N. Y. Acad. Sci., V, Feb. 1890.-11 162 Coleopterological Notices. pieces, the coxae and trochantiu by a fine, nearly straight suture which, ante- riorly, becomes a deep groove for the reception of the antennje, and which is the posterior prolongation of deep grooves beneath the eyes. Prothorax fitted to the elytra throughout the width of the latter, with the basal angles acate and slightly produced posteriorly. This genus was founded by LeConte upon the Californian repre- sentative T. Crotchii, which is more slender than the present, more finely and much more densely punctate and pubescent, the hairs being somewhat confusedly matted as in Heterocerus. The above diagnosis was drawn from the Texan species which seems to be identical in generic characters. T. politlis n. sp. — Black above ; legs and under surface rufo-piceous ; abdomen paler ; antennse black ; integuments subalutaceous beneath, very highly polished above, rather coarsely and sparsely pubescent ; hairs short, erect, denser and finer on the head. Head moderate in size, deeply seated in the prothorax ; front vertical in repose, feebly, evenly convex, very finely and feebly punctate ; eyes large, rather prominent, entirely exposed, on the sides just before the prothorax ; antennse slightly longer than the width of the head, slender ; joints three to five very slender, the tliird almost as long as the fourth and fifth together. Prothorax widest at the base, where it is two-thirds wider than at apex ; sides evenly, feebly arcuate ; base transverse, rather abruptly and strongly arcuate in the middle third ; posterior angles very acute, slightly produced ; apex broadly, feebly arcuate ; disk nearly twice as wide as long, broadly, very evenly convex, finely, sparsely punctate, the interspaces ex- tremely minutely and feebly punctate. Scutellum very distinct, flat, polished, impunctate, ogival, pointed, as long as wide. Elytra at base equal in width to the prothorax ; sides parallel, feebly arcuate for two-thirds the length from the base ; together gradually rounded behind, acute at the apex ; disk evenly convex, nearly three times as long as the prothorax, very coarsely and strongly punctate ; punctures impressed, evenly distributed, obsolete at base ; inter- spaces more than twice as wide as the punctures, not at all punctate. Under surface very finely, densely pubescent, the hairs short and closely recumbent ; abdomen extremely minutely granulose, not punctate ; segments decreasing very slightly in length to the fourth, fifth slightly longer ; surface convex ; sutures feeble, straight. Length 1.7-2.0 mm. Texas (Galveston). A very good series of this interesting species was obtained from the vegetable detritus, covering the interior line of sand dunes, alonff the ocean beach. Coleopterological Notices. 1G3 LUCANID.E. PLATYCERUS Geoff. A sexual character, which seems to have escaped observation, exists in perhaps its greatest development in quercus. It will be seen that in this species, the posterior tarsi of the female are much shorter than in the male. In oregonensis the same condition holds, but to a less-marked degree, and in Agassii the character completely disappears, the tarsi in both male and female being very long and slender, with the fourth joint twice as long as wide. The type of californicus is a female, and, as the posterior tarsi are extremelv short, relatively more abbreviated even than in the female of quer- cus, with the fourth joint fully as wide as long, it is probable that the male, also, has a shorter tarsus than Agassii, and that the species is to be associated with quercus and oregonensis, rather than with Agassii} Through the kindness of Mr. J. J. Rivers of Berkeley, California, who has made the study of this genus somewhat of a specialty, I have been permitted to examine a larger series than has been hitherto available to me, and find that there are several species similar to Agassii in having the mandibles small and inconspicu- ous in the males, and the hind tarsi nearly as long as the tibia?. The series alluded to affords sufficient material for a tolerably com- plete study, and consists of twelve specimens of Agassii, three of pacificus, and two of parvicollis. These three species may be defined as follows, the characters given referring to the male only: — Sides of the prothorax — viewed vertically — distinctly subaiigulate. Pronotum finely, densely punctate ; antennal club much longer than the funicle, the last joint strongly asymmetric, the longest dimension being in a direction oblique to the axis of the club, and very much exceeding the width ; sixth joint of funicle strongly produced anteriorly ; fifth joint of hind tarsi as long as the first and second combined ; elytra equal in width to the prothorax Agassii 1 I have recently had occasion to inspect the original female type of Agassii in the museum at Cambridge, Mass., and find that the specimens heretofore regarded by Mr. Fuchs and myself as representing that species, were correctly identified. The type, apart from its slightly paler color due to immaturity, dqes not differ in the slightest degree from the average female, and the inmc- tuation of the pronotum is equally dense. 164 Coleopterological Notices. Pronotum much more coarsely and sparsely punctate ; antennal club equal in length to the funicle, the last joint much less, although distinctly, asymmetric, slightly longer than wide ; sixth joint of funicle just visibly more prominent anteriorly; fifth joint of hind tarsi distinctly longer than the first two combined ; elytra at apical two-fifths fully one-fourth wider than the prothorax ; color pale, brown pai'Vicollis Sides of protliorax — viewed vertically — broadly, evenly arcuate, subaugulate when viewed laterally, the surface much more convex and declivous at the sides ; pronotum finely and very sparsely punctate; antennal club slightly but distinctly longer than the funicle, tlie last joint wider than long ; sixth joint of funicle not at all prominent anteriorly; elytra equal in width to the prothorax; surface highly polished ; color deep black paciflcllS P. parvicollis n. sp, — Form slender, rather depressed ; sides parallel ; dark reddish-brown, somewhat bronzed ; head and pronotum darker ; legs throughout dark brown ; integuments polished. Head rather small, coarsely, deeply and rather densely punctate ; front with several long coarse fulvous setae ; mandibles small ; antennal club about equal in length to the funicle ; last joint very slightly oblique, slightly longer than wide. Prothorax small, widest very near the middle where it is nearly twice as wide as long, and where the sides are distinctly angulate from above, the angle narrowly rounded ; apex broadly, very feebly emarginate, slightly narrower than the base ; the latter transversely truncate ; angles slightly prominent, acute, not at all rounded ; sides nearly sti-aight anteriorly and posteriorly, rather strongly convergent in botli senses, feebly sinuate near the base ; disk broadly, feebly convex, rather broadly but not strongly reflexed at the sides, coarsely and strongly punctate, the punctures rather sparse in the middle, with a narrow, incomplete, impunctate median line, dense toward the sides, except in the reflexed portion, where they are very sparse and coarser. Scutellum much wider than long, parabolic, very sparsely, coarsely punctate at base. Elytra at base fully as wide as the prothorax ; sides parallel, distinctly arcuate behind, nearly straight and feebly divergent in the basal fourth ; together evenly and rather strongly rounded behind ; disk transversely and moderately convex, four-fifths longer than wide, three and one-third times as long as the prothorax, widest at two-fifths the length from the apex where it is one-fourth wider than the latter ; strife nearly equidistant, feebly impressed, rather finely, deeply punctate, the punctures closely approximate ; intervals feebly convex, sparsely creased, finely, unevenly and sparsely punctate. Legs slender ; poste- rior tarsi just visibly shorter than the tibise. Length 10.3 mm. ; width 4.0 mm. California. Readily distinguished from Agassii and pacificus by the pale color, small prothorax which is here much narrower than the elytra, and by the great relative length of the latter. The type is a male ; the antennal club being relatively very much shorter than in either of the species mentioned. In Agassii the funicle is three-fifths as Coleopterological Notices. 1G5 long as the club, in pacijicus three-fourths, and in jmi'vwolHs about equal in length, the comparisons being- made from males. In the female of Agassii the club is small and very distinctly shorter than the funicle. P. paciflciis n. sp. — Oblong, rather convex, polished, black ; sides parallel and nearly straight. Head moderate in size, sparsely, coarsely punctate ; antennal club distinctly longer than the funicle, last joint almost symmetrical, distinctly wider than long. Prothorax widest at one-third the length from the base, where it is two and one-half times as wide as the head, and two-thirds wider than long ; sides — viewed vertically — broadly rounded, sinuate near the basal angles which are acute, .not rounded, and slightly prominent ; apex slightly narrower than the base, broadly and feebly emar- ginate, the latter transversely truncate ; disk broadly convex, rather broadly and strongly reliexed at the sides, very sparsely, finely punctate in the middle with an impunctate median line ; punctures miich denser laterally ; in the reflexed portion along the margin they are again sparser but much coarser. Scutellum ogival, slightly wider than long, punctate at base, impunctate in the apical half. Elytra at base about as wide as the prothorax ; sides parallel, distinctly arcuate jjosteriorly, straight in the basal third or fourth ; together broadly rounded behind ; disk transversely, rather strongly convex, two and three-fourths times as long as the prothorax ; striae feeble, rather closely punctate, equidistant ; intervals very feebly convex, creased, more finely and very sparsely punctate. Legs black ; tarsi very slightly paler toward apex, the posterior nearly as long as the tibise. Length 10.0 mm. ; width 4.2 mm. California. This species is easily distinguished from Agassii by its very sparse punctuation and form of the prothorax, the sides of the latter being much more broadly rounded, when viewed vertically, than in Agassii, although when viewed obliquely they are sub- angulate. SCARABJEIDiE. ACOMA n. gen. (Melolonthinse). Clypeus rather prolonged, concave; apex with a small median notch and feebly bidentate, strongly infiexed for a great distance beneath, the labrum entirely connate and obsolete, not visible except as a minute reflexion of the infraclypeal surface. Mentum minute, very narrow, elongate, nearly flat. Maxillas large, the palpi rather large ; basal joint small ; second and third subequal, longer than wide ; fourth as long as the pre(;eding together, wider, elongate-oval, with a broad shallow groove on the outer face throughout the length, the apex with a minute oval impressed area. Labial palpi very minute. Eyes large ; inferior portion much larger than the upper, separated 166 Coleopterological Notices. beneath by mncb less than their own width. Antennae nine-jointed ; basal joint as long as the next three together, slender at base, strongly inflated toward apex, the apical margin fringed with a single row of long erect setse ; second wider than long, narrower than tlie first, strongly narrowed at base ; third to fifth subeqiial in length, longer than wide, subcylindrical and sub- anchylosed ; sixth very short, strongly transverse, slightly wider ; seventh to ninth forming a very large club, twice as long as the stem — measured in a direction perpendicular thereto — strongly arcuate toward apex, and, in shape and relationship with the stem, exactly as in Polyphylla. Vertex with a fine longitudinal ridge over each eye ; clypeal suture obsolete except near the sides where it is fine and transverse. Anterior margin of the pronotum with a broad flat bead throughout ; posterior margin witli a very much finer one, which becomes abruptly very fine in the middle and also laterally. Scutellum rather large, ogival. Elytra projecting well behind and partially concealing the pygidium. Anterior coxae large, transverse, strongly conical and prominent internally ; presternum very short before them, the anterior margin broadly bisinuate between the strongly advanced and acute anterior angles of the pronotum ; hypomera rather wide, nearly flat and almost horizontal ; femora large, broad, flattened, posterior very large ; anterior tibiae with a small acute internal spur near the apex, two external obtuse teeth, and a prolonged apical process wliich is slightly dilated toward apex ; middle and posterior tibiae robust, festooned in the middle with an oblique girdle of spinules, obliquely truncate and dilated at apex, with a fringe of short robust spinules, and two long terminal spurs ; tarsi very long and slender, twice as long as the tibiae ; joints very long, slender and cylindrical; basal joint longest; claws very slender, long, finely acuminate, very feebly arcuate, equal and very minutely carinate internally at base. Metasternum very obliquely truncate at the sides behind, in the middle longer than the abdomen ; episterna short and broad. Abdomen extremely short in the middle, broad, consisting of five segments ; sutures distinct throughout the width ; first segment almost completely covered by the very large posterior coxae. Pygidium moderate, about as long as wide, feebly convex, rounded at apex, very feebly and inwardly oblique. The very long slender tarsi and nine-jointed antenna seem to point at first to a relationship with Macrodactylus, but the very large mentum, feebly inflexed clypeus and abdominal structure of the latter prohibitVny such association. From the Sericini it differs in its very minute elongate mentum, this organ in that group being large and transverse. From the Dichelonychini it differs in its minute mentum and obsolete labrum, and from all these in the form of the labial palpi. The latter are extremely minute, scarcely visi- ble, and closely approximate, the two basal joints very small, sub- globular, the third longer than the first two together, elongate-oval. In the genus Podolasia the clypeus is formed nearly as in Acoma, but is slightly more developed above, and inflexed for a much shorter Coleopterological Notices. 167 distance iDeneath. The labial palpi are large and very evident ; the antennae are nine-jointed, with a small robust three-jointed club, and with the second joint large and globular ; the anterior tibiae are devoid of internal spine, and the long apical process is acute and strongly excurvate. The claws are long and slender, with a small longitudinal carina internally at base, but not properly toothed. The first four abdominal segments are connate, the sutures exces- sively feeble in the middle, but not entirely obliterated, the fourth suture wide and membranous. I think, therefore, that this interesting genus may be placed for the present near Podolasia, but with the assumption that it consti- tutes a connecting bond with some other group in its almost per- fectl}^ free abdominal segments, extremely minute labial palpi, and greatly develope^l antennal club of the male. In Chnaunanthus the ventral sutures are absolutely obliterated in the middle, and this genus is therefore a more highly specialized representative of the group Oncerini, than either Podolasia or Acoma. A. Iiruiinea n. sp. — Form oblong, the sides nearly parallel, moderately convex, dark reddish-brown throughout ; head and prothorax almost glabrous, but rather densely fimbriate with long erect hairs at the sides ; elytra sparsely clothed with rather long erect hairs, which are longer and more conspicuous at the sides ; under surface bristling with long slender sparsely placed hairs, especially (ionspicuous on the fimbriate femora. Head coarsely, very densely and deeply rugoso-puuctate, the clyjjeus, which is nearly as long as the remainder of the head, coarsely, deeply and sparsely punctate. Proihorax four-fifths wider than long; sides strongly rounded just behind the middle, thence convergent and feebly sinuate to the acute apical angles, broadly rounded to the base, the basal angles being broadly rounded and obsolete ; base broadly, very feebly arcuate, abruptly distinctly and more strongly so opposite the scutellum ; apex broadly emarginate, bottom of emargination broadly bisinuate ; disk moderately convex, polished, feebly impressed along the median line excej)t near base and ajpex, finely, sparsely punctate ; punc- tures entirely wanting in a broad median line, and also along the basal mar- gin. Scutellum almost impunctate. Elytra widest in the middle, slightly longer than wide, very slightly wider than the prothorax ; sides parallel, feebly arcuate, together broadly, obtusely rounded behind ; humeri slightly prominent ; disk feebly convex, strongly so at the sides, finely, feebly and unevenly striate ; striae more approximate and very much confused at the sides, where the surface is distinctly rugulose ; striae very finely and approxi- mately punctate ; intervals each with a very uneven single line of larger, more distant punctures. Length 5.0-5.5 mm. 168 Coleojyterological Notices. Texas (El Paso). Mr. G W. Dunn. This very anomalous little beetle apparently lives in flowers or on plants; the three specimens before me are males; I have not seen the female. POLYPHYLLA Harris. The American species of this genus appear to agree very well with the European, and differ principally in their shorter, more robust legs. The following species belongs near decemlineata, and may be at once interpolated in the table given by Dr. Horn (Trans. Am. Ent. Soc, IX, p. 73). P. speciosa n. sp. — Elongate-ovivl, convex ; protliorax trivittate ; lateral vittse interrupted. Female. — Head much wider than long ; clypeus two and one-half times as wide as long ; sides parallel, feebly arcuate ; apex broadly and very feebly bisinuate, the lateral angles acute, more prominent and more strongly re- flexed ; front coarsely and very densely punctate, rather sparsely clothed with short erect hairs, and squamose with large pointed scales toward tlie eyes and along the margins of the clypeus ; auteniife rather robust ; basal joint pyriform, robust, as long as the next two together ; second and third ehjngate, the latter much the longer, fourth obconical, slightly, produced inwardly at apex, feebly transverse ; club feebly arcuate, six-jointed, first narrower and more acuminate than the others, pointed, and but little more than one-half as long, remaining joints equal in length and neai-ly as long as the entire stem including the basal joint. Prothorux widest just behind the middle, narrowed rather rapidly thence to the apex, the latter about two-thirds as wide as the base, broadly emarginate and feebly bisinuate ; base broadly arcuate, more strongly so in the middle ; sides subangulate, angle narrowly rounded, thence just visibly arcuate to the apical angles, and extremely feebly sinuate to the base, broadly and very feebly subcrenulate throughout ; basal angles obtuse, not at all rounded ; disk convex, with a very small feeble impression near each lateral edge at the middle of the length ; vittae white, very dense, the lateral interrupted anteriorly, remainder sparsely covered with large elongate pointed yellow scales, which are denser near the basal margin except in tlie middle ; surface anteriorly with a very few short erect hairs ; punctures large, shallow, round and variolate, rather densely but unevenly distributed, each enclosing a scale. Scutellum broadly parabolic, vittate. Elytra three-fifths longer than wide, in the middle one-third wider than the protliorax ; sides parallel and feebly arcuate, subtruncate behind ; humeri slightly tumid ; apical umbones large and feeble ; each elytron with three broad dense white vitt£e, and a fourth very narrow and interrupted between the second and third from the suture ; third vitta abruptly terminating near the apex, feebly and evenly arcuate throughout, first and second meeting on the apical ixmbo, the first irregular toward base ; suture narrowly vittate, the vitta continuing ColeopteroJogical Notices. 169 to the apex ; intermediate surface finely, sparsely punctate, and covered sparsely with moderate pointed yellow scales. Pi/gidium slightly wider than long, triangular ; sides equally arcuate ; surface feebly convex, slightly im- pi'essed at the sides, sparsely clothed with elongate whitish scales which are dense along the base, and much sparser in a very narrow median line ; surface also very sparsely and finely pubescent. Abdomen with small robust whitish scales, much denser along the apical margins of the segments, and also with very sparse erect pubescence. Length 36.0 mm. Colorado (exact locality unknown — 9) ; New Mexico — %. This fine species is easily distinguishable by its antenual structure from any other in the genus. The last joint of the maxillary palpi is very feebly lunate, and is pointed at apex. The anterior tibiae are robust, the outer teeth strong, the one nearest the base very broad, obtuse, and feebly developed.^ ' I take the present opportunity to describe an interesting new species, received a short time since from Central America. The description refers to the female. P. conciirreiis n. sp. — Form nearly as in decemUneata, pale brownish- rufous. Clypeus truncate, broadly arciiate in the middle ; angles right, not rounded, but also not prominent, its surface feebly and very narrowly reflexed at the apical margin, having a few widely scattered, coarse, squamigerous punctures ; front immediately behind the suture abruptly, coarsely, extremely densely and deeply punctate, the punctures in mutual contact, the occiput again abruptly totally impunctate ; antennae moderate, club as long as joints two to four combined ; sixth joint rather less than one-half as long as the remainder, which are equal. Proihorax nearly as in decemUneata, but very much more sparsel}- punctate, the median line very deeply impressed, and the vittPR narrow ; scales large and robust. Scutellum polished, with a narrow median vitta. Elytra with ten very narrow, densely squamose vittae, the second from the lateral margin long, extending to apical third, but very widely interrupted ; intervals extremely sparsely squamose, the scales smaller and narrower than those of the vitt?e. Length 25.0 mm, ; width 11.0 mm. Honduras. (One specimen.) Although resembling decemUneata, this species is smaller, less robust, and differs greatly in the form of the pygidium, which is slightly longer than wide, transversely convex, and extremely sparsely squamose, a narrow median line entirely glabrous. The anterior tibiae are tridentate, the basal tooth very broad and feebly developed. The front and vertex in this species, And also in speciosa, are very much more densely and coarsely punctate than in decem- Uneata, where the punctures are separated by their own widths. All compari- sons have been drawn from the female, which is the more constant sex. ITO Coleopterological Notices. THYCE Lee. The single species, which has been regarded as the t^'pe of this genus, has hitherto been represented by a single female, and the recent discovery of the male by Mr. Dunn at El Paso, Texas, indi- cates the absence of generic difference between it and most of the Californian species separated as Plectrodes.^ The structure of the anterior coxae is identical, and the teeth of the tarsal claws are quite plainly unequal, to fully as great a degree in fact in T. squamicoUis, as in many of the recognized species of Plectrodes. Our species may be separated as follows, the characters referring to the males : — Fourth joint of tlie maxillary palpi one-third as long as the antennal club.^ Carpenter! Fourth joint three-fifths as long as the antennal club; elytra neaiiy glabrous. squaniicollis Fourth joint three-fourths as long as the antennal club. Elytra moderately densely pubescent ; last palpal joint oval, with the groove almost evenly ellipticaF palpalis Elytra extremely densely clothed with very minute, recumbent, squamiform hairs ; last palpal joint robust, the groove widening toward base. pulTerea Fourth joint just visibly shorter than the antennal club, the apex acute and deflexed fossiger Fourth joint two-thirds longer than the antennal club Harforcli In Carpenteri and also in Plectrodes jmbescens the excavated groove in the fourth palpi joint is narrow, shallow and feeble, and is much shorter than the joint; in the remainder it is narrow, very deep, and extends throughout the length. The females are much less abundant than the males, and differ considerably. The fourth palpal joint is small and moi'e uniform in size with reference to the antennal club, and, although impressed externally, the groove is shallow and only partial, even in the 1 The genus Plectrodes is represented only by the original P. pubescens of Horn. In this species the anterior coxse do not diflFer in form from the same members in Thyce, but the abdominal segments are much shorter, and are almost completely free, requiring but slight force to break them asunder. In all the other species the ventral segments are long and connate, to absolutely the same degree as in Thyce squamicoUis, being indicated only by feebly im- pressed lines. The genus Plectrodes should therefore be placed in the Melo- lonthini, where it will constitute one of the transitions to the Macrophyllini. 2 Horn, Trans, Am. Ent. Soc, VIII, p. 146, and PI. Ill, fig. 7. ^ Ibid. Coleopterological Notices. lYl females of such sti'ongly developed forms as pulverea and Hai^- fordi. The antennal club is much shorter, more compact and oval. The anterior tibia3 arc stouter and with more strongly developed external teeth. The vestiturc is very much shorter, finer, and spai'ser, so that the general color is darker. The species of Thyce are nocturnal, being abundantly attracted by bright lights at certain seasons of the year. T. squamicoUis Lee. — The female of this species is much larger than the male, but is almost precisely similar in vestiture. The pronotum in both sexes is very sparsely clothed with small, closely recumbent, squamiform hairs which are slightly denser along a narrow median line, as is usual throughout the genus ; the lateral vittae are, however, not definite. The name is therefore somewhat inappropriate. In the male the antennal club is nearly three-fourths as long as the stem, and in the female only one-half as long as the latter, oval and more compact. Although the upper surface is more than usually glabrous, the long dense silken pubescence of the under surface is as well developed as in any other species. T. pulverea n. sp. — Form elongate-oval, convex ; elytra and abdomen dark reddish-brown ; head and prothorax darker, piceous, the latter clothed moderately densely with small robust recumbent hairs, and longer erect pubes- cence ; elytra and abdomen very densely covered with minute, recumbent, squamiform hairs ; remainder of the under surface with long very dense silky pubescence ; mesosternal parapleurse, hypomera, and exposed surface of maxillae devoid of long erect pubescence, but having whiter, dense and recum- bent, squamiform hairs, a small indefinite spot at the sides of each abdominal segment also whiter and denser, remaining vestiture cinereous. Head wider than long; clypeus concave, truncate and very feebly sinuate in the middle, the angles slightly rounded, the base very slightly narrower ; antennal club as long as the stem ; last joint of the maxillary palpus nearly one-half longer than the preceding together, and fully three-fourths as long as the antennal club, rather robust, apex oblique but not defiexed and with a small circular truncation, the groove very deep, widening toward base, entire. Prothorax one-half wider than long ; sides broadly angulate, the angles rounded ; basal angles obtuse and rounded, apical obtuse but not rounded ; apex very feebly emarginate, one-half as wide as the base, the latter broadly angulate, the angle broadly rounded ; disk convex, finely, feebly and densely punctate. Scutellum white, more densely pubescent. Elytra nearly one-half longer than wide, widest near the middle, nearly one-third wider than the prothorax; sides very feebly arcuate ; apex broadly sinuate ; humeri slightly tumid ; apical umbones very feeble ; disk with the most feeble and indefinite traces of fine costse, very finely, feebly and densely punctate. Pyyidium one-third wider 172 Coleopterological Notices. than long, feebly convex, very minutely and densely punctate and pubescent. Lefjs moderate ; femora fringed with fine erect pubescence, the flat surfaces with very small, recumbent, squamiform hairs not very densely placed ; tarsi as long as the tibise ; claws arcuate, finely attenuate ; tooth of anterior claw of anterior tarsi erect, near the base, slightly arcuate, stout and scarcely one- third as long as the remainder ; tooth of the posterior claw, less than one-half as large, projecting but slightly above the basal carina ; proportions in the other claws nearly similar, the tooth of the posterior claw of the hind tarsi, on its outer edge, nearly one-fifth the internal length of the remaining portion ; corresponding ratio of the anterior claw one-third. Length 22.0 mm. California (Los Angeles Co.). The diagnoses here given are taken from the male ; in the female of the present species the tarsal claws are rather smaller, the teeth more nearly equal, the greatest difference being in those of the anterior tarsi, the posterior being almost absolutely equal. In Thyce the fourth palpal joint is received at base in a broad excavation in the apex of the robust transverse third joint, and the- latter in turn is similarly connected with the second. The proportional length of the fourth palpal joint in pulverea is the same as that given for paljxilis, but the two species can be dis- tinguished by the apparently denser pubescence of pulverea, by the more robust palpal joint in which the groove, according to the figure given by Dr. Horn, is differently shaped, and b}^ the claws of the posterior tarsi, in which the teeth are said to be very nearly equal in palpalis (Trans. Am. Ent. Soc, VIII, p. 147). T. fossiger n. sp. — Form rather broadly oval, convex, castaneous ; head and prothorax piceoiis ; vestiture throughout nearly as in pidcerea, but slightly coarser, and with the erect hairs of the pronotum decidedly longer. Head small, wider than long ; clypens concave, truncate ; angles narrowly rounded ; sides parallel, strongly arcuate ; antennal club slightly shorter than the stem and but very slightly longer than the fourth palpal joint, the latter elongate, rather slender, the apex distinctly deflexed, and with the usual minute circular truncation, one-third longer than the three preceding together ; external groove entire, very narrow and deep, slightly enlarged near the base, and again much more feebly so near the apex. Prothorax two-thirds wider than long ; sides laterally strongly angulate, the angle rounded ; sides very feebly sinuate anteriorly, feebly arcuate toward base and nearly coarctate with the latter, the basal angles being very obtuse and broadly rounded ; apical angles right, not rounded ; apex very feebly emarginate, one-half as wide as the base, the latter broadly, feebly angulate, the angle broadly rounded ; disk convex, even, finely, feebly and densely punctate. Elytra two-fifths longer than wide and two-fifths wider than the prothorax ; sides feebly arcuate ; apex broadly angularly emarginate ; humeri very feebly tumid ; disk with Coleopterological Notices. 173 very feeble traces of costse, very minutely, feebly and densely punctate. Pygidium one-third wider than long, feebly convex, punctured, and very densely pubescent like the elytra. Legs moderate ; tarsi as long as the tibiae ; claws nearly as in pidrerea. Length 20.0 mm. California (Los Angeles Co.). This species is closely allied to the last, but diifers in its shorter, more robust and flattened form, its shorter, more transverse pro- thorax Avith more angulate sides, which are more rapidly convergent toward base when viewed vertically, and in the structure of the antennae and palpi. The pubescence of the elytra is more densely placed, and the pygidium more nearly vertical. T. Hai'foi'di n. sp. — Oval, convex, piceous-black throughout ; vestiture yellowish-cinereous ; silky hairs of under surface very long and dense ; abdomen moderately densely covered with small robust recumbent hairs, each segment with a paler spot of denser pubescence at the side near the apex ; maxillje, hypomera, mesosternal parapleurse, and metasternal epimera whiter and with short stout recumbent pubescence ; vestiture of the elytra dense, the hairs robust, recumbent and rather long, sparser on the pronotum, the fine erect hairs of the latter long, dense and conspicuous. Head small, but very slightly wider than long ; clypeus concave, broadly, feebly sinuate, the angles narrowly rounded and the sides parallel and feebly arcuate ; antennal club robust, oval, much shorter than the stem and scarcely more than two-thirds as long as the fourth palpal joint ; the latter greatly developed, more than one- half longer than tlie preceding joints together, elongate, and but moderately robust when viewed laterally, with the lower edge straight, the upper broadly arcuate, the apex scalpel late, the lower point of the apex not deflexed, and with an exceedingly minute circular truncation, having externally, an entire groove which is wide, elongate, elliptical, and extending fully one-half through the joint. Prothorax two-thirds wider than long ; sides rather strongly angu- late, the angle rounded ; sides near it straig]it ; basal angles obtuse and moderately rounded ; apex very feebly emarginate, scarcely one-half as wide as the base, the latter broadly and rather strongly angulate, the angle broadly rounded ; disk convex, very narrowly and feebly impressed along the median line, rather finely, feebly and densely punctate. Scutellum with a very fine subdenuded median line. Elytra two-fifths longer than wide and nearly two- fifths wider than the prothorax, with very feeble traces of broad costae, together broadly, angularly emarginate at apex when viewed longitudinally ; sides parallel and feebly arcuate ; disk minutely, feebly and densel3' punctate. Legs moderate ; tarsi about as long as the tibiae. Length 19.0-20.0 mm. California (Alameda Co.). The claws are nearly as in the preceding species, but the teeth are slightly more slender and acute. The pygidium is but one- fourth wider than long. This species is very distinct in its strongly 174 Coleopterological Notices. developed palpi and correspondingly smaller, more robust and oval antennal club; it was taken very abundantly at night in the suburbs of Alameda, Cal., and is dedicated to an enthusiastic friend of ento- mological science — Mr. W. G. W. Harford, of Oakland, Cal. DliVACOMA n. gen. (Melolonthini). Clypeus concave, parallel, subtruncate. Mentum moderate, subquadrate, concave. Maxillse moderate, the palpi well developed ; first joint very small, narrow, obconical ; second and third longer than wide, the former the longer, both obconical and obliquely truncate ; fourth slightly shorter than the pre- ceding three together, pointed, deeply impressed or excavated on its outer face. Labial palpi very small ; third joint ovoidal, obtusely acuminate, as long as the two preceding together. Labrum short, transverse, free, impressed in the middle. Autennre ten-jointed ; middle joints of stem subanchylosed, short ; club three-jointed, very long and arcuate in the males. Anterior coxse trans- verse, but slightly prominent. Metasternal episterna moderate in width. Abdominal segments connate, the sutures fine but not entirely obliterated, rendered distinct by the disposition of the vestiture. Metasternum well developed. Legs rather short and slender ; tarsi short, the posterior much sliorter than the tibiae ; claws moderate, evenly and strongly arcuate, toothed near the base, the teeth distinctly unequal. The above characters indicate a genus intermediate in many characters between Polyphylla and Thyce. It is founded upon Thyce marginata Casey (Bull. Cal. Acad. Sci., II, p. 39). The deep excavation of the fourth palpal joint, which is present in this genus in common with Thyce, is by no means confined to this group of genera, as it is a common character in Diplotaxis, although generally less developed. The characters agreeing with Thyce, reside in the structure of the palpi and tarsal claws, and those which ally it most directly with Polyphylla, are found in the greatly developed male antennal club, and the short tarsi. TENEBRIONID.E. EDROTES Lee. The four species of this genus may be separated as follows: — « Pubescence long and erect. Pubescence more condensed in several narrow widely distant lines on each elytron ; surface highly polished, very minutely and sparsely punctate, Coleopterological Notices. 115 the punctures more dense — but still confused — along the more densely- pubescent lines, strongly convex veiltricOSUS Pubescence denser, without trace of serial arrangement. Lustre rather dull ; form strongly convex ; punctures dense, very large and deeply impressed ; antennfe rather robust rotlliidatus Polished, subdepressed above, more abruptly and strongly convex at the sides ; punctures small, sparse and perforate ; antenn.-e longer and very slender, less capitate llitidllS Pubescence very short, subrecumbent, not definitely arranged glollOSUS E. nitidllS n. sp. — Broadly-oval, black ; legs piceous ; antennae dark rufous. Head distinctly narrower than the prothorax ; median lobe of epis- toma strong, much wider than long, truncate, dilated at apex ; outer face of mandibles very coarsely and densely punctate, the punctures distinctly sepa- rated. Prothorax fully four times as wide as its median length ; apex broadly emarginate in circular arc, the apical angles strongly, anteriorly produced and acute ; sides very feebly convergent from base to apex, extremely feebly sinuate toward apex ; base truncate ; lateral acute edge obsolete except at the apical angles ; disk finely very sparsely punctate in the middle, the punctures be- coming much larger, dense and subasperate laterally. Elytra widest just before the middle ; sides strongly, evenly arcuate, the apex from above very broadly rounded ; disk somewhat flattened above, nearly six times as long as the median pronotal length, and about one-third wider than the prothorax, finely, sparsely punctate, the punctures generally separated by from four to five times their own diameters. Length 7.5 mm. California (Mojave Desert, Kern Co.). This species is quite distinct from any of the others ; the pubes- cence is long and somewhat coarse, evenly distributed over the elytra, a little shorter, sparser and coarser than in rotundus, and distinctly shorter, more matted and slightly coarser than in ventri- cosus ; the latter is larger and much more minutely punctate. E. glollOSUS n. sp. — Very broadly oval and strongly convex, black throughout ; legs and antennae slightly piceous ; pubescence very short, cinereous, abundant and depressed. Head moderate ; median lobe of epistoma wider than long, feebly constricted at base, the angles rounded and apex trun- cate ; punctures of outer face of mandibles coarse, deep and dense, polygonally crowded. Prothorax very strongly transverse, broadly, very feebly emarginate in circular arc at apex ; lateral edges completely obsolete and broadly rounded, the apical angles alone acute and prominent ; disk polished, very finely and sparsely punctate in the middle, abruptly coarsely, deeply and very densely so at the sides, the punctures mutually contiguous. Elytra subglobose, very strongly convex, rather coarsely, densely and evenly punctate throughout the disk, the punctures separated generally by rather more than their own diame- ters. Length 5.5 mm. 176 Coleopterological Notices. Colorado (Greeley), A very interesting form, quite isolated by reason of its small size, convex subglobose elytra, and very short subrecumbent pubes- cence. It is one of the many interesting discoveries of Mr. H. F. Wickham. USECHUS Mots. Two species of this genus are now known ; they may be dis- tinguished as follows : — Median impressed area of pronotum fusiform, entire, more or less coalescent with the basal fovea, the latter narrow and elongate ; elytral punctures very- large, widely separated in the rows ; pubescence very sparse ; color blackish- piceous lacerta Median impressed area feeble, the subcariniform sides nearly straij^ht and parallel, entirely obsolete just beliiud the middle ; basal fovea larger, i-ounded, always deep, distinct and isolated ; elytral punctures smaller, more closely placed ; pubescence denser and rather longer, more densely and conspicuously nucleated in twelve small spots on the elytra ; color paler, brown; size smaller Illicleatus The species above defined as lacerta, has been identified from the somewhat unsatisfactory figure given by Motschulsky. U. nucleatus n. sp. — Of the same form as lacerta; pubescence pale flavate, rather sparse but denser and conspicuous on the elevated ridges, and in twelve spots on the posterior two-thirds of the elytra, disposed on each elytron as follows: one just before the centre, three in an oblique line at posterior third, and two in a line nearly parallel to the suture, rather indis- tinct, and very near the apex. Head small, rather coarsely and sparsely punctate. Prothorax as wide as long ; posterior angles small, acute and promi- nent ; base four-fifths as wide as the disk ; surface finely tuberculate, each tubercle with a small lateral puncture bearing a stiff subrecumbent seta. Scutellum extremely minute, twice as long as wide, pointed, slightly tumid. Elytra with fine feeble costse, the intervals deeply punctate, the humeral costa very strong toward base, the base also very strongly tumid at one-third the width from the suture to the sides, the posterior densely pubescent spots also slightly tumid. Length 3.0-4.2 mm. California (Humboldt Co.). Occurs in great abundance in the Hoopa Valley, and may be dis- tinguished at once from lacerta, not only by the characters given in the table, but by the form of the smooth and impunctate furrow which extends along the lateral edges of the pronotum behind the antennal excavations. In the present species this furrow extends nearly in circular arc from the excavations, past the basal angles. Coleopterological Notices. 117 and terminates at the rounded median basal fovea, while in Jacerta it is narrower and deeper, and terminates at the basal ang-les ; this character is comparatively constant. In lacerta the densely pubes- cent spots referred to as a prominent character of 7nicleafus, are also visible and in nearly the same positions, but they are always feebler; the length of lacerta is 4.0-5.0 mm. CIELOTAXl Horn. The form of the body in this genus somewhat resembles that of Coniontis, but is as a rule rather more broadly and evenly elliptical, the prothorax being more strongly narrowed from base to apex.' The sculpture is stronger and denser, and the seta3, which are seldom prominent and nearly always recumbent in Coniontis, here become much denser and more erect, in this latter respect resembling those of the aberrant Coniontis obesa Lee. The species are entirely confined to the small island of Guadalupe, off the coast of Lower California. Most of the material before me has been recently collected bv Mr. Gr. W. Dunn; the series is very extensive, amounting to about forty specimens, and indicates three species which may be distin- guished as follows : — Form broadly elliptical ; sides arcuate. Punctuation of elytra sparse, not muricate ; surface shining ; setre fine, easily removable piinctulata Punctuation of the elytra distinctly muricate ; setae coarse, very persistent, always present on the elytra mui'icata. Form narrow, oblong ; sides parallel and nearly straiglit ; surface dull, densely, coarsely muricate ailglistllla C anglistllla n. sp. — Oblong, moderately robust; sides parallel and nearly straight ; color above dark brownish-ferruginous, beneath slightly paler and more rufous ; legs concolorous ; lustre dull. Head slightly wider than long ; median impression very small and nearly obsolete ; punctures rather coarse, deep, very dense, sparser on the occiput ; a small median area at the base Impunctate. Prothorax transversely, strongly convex, fully twice as wide as the median length ; sides feebly convergent from base to apex and feebly, evenly arcuate ; apex broadly emarginate ; base nearly straight, except at the sides where it becomes distinctly sinuate ; basal angles distinctly pro- duced posteriorly, right when viewed laterally, not rounded, apical very narrowly so ; disk very narrowly reflexed at the sides, coarsely, very deeply and densely punctate, most densely so at one-fourth the width from the sides, where the punctures tend to coalesce longitudinally, more sparsely so near the edges. Elytra at base as wide as the prothorax ; sides parallel and nearly Annals N. Y. Acad. Sci., V, Feb. 1890.— 12 178 Goleopterological Notices. straight for two-thirds the length from the base, thence together rather acutely rounded behind ; disk transversely, strongly convex, rather coarsely, densely and asperately punctate ; interspaces dull ; pubescence fine, rather long and dense. Length 7.5-9.0 mm. ; width 3.8-4.7 mm. Guadalupe Island. The present species, which is represented by a series of eight specimens, is immediately distinguishable from the others b}^ its narrow subcylindrical form, parallel and much more rectilineal sides, and generally coarser pronotal punctuation. G. muricata Horn. — Represented by a good series showing slight variation, especially noticeable in the size and density of the pro- notal punctuation. The color varies from dark brownish-ferrugi- nous to piceous-black. One specimen differs in its more broadly oval form. Length 8. 0-10. .5 mm.; width 4.3-5.5 mm. C. punctulata Horn. — This species is represented by a homogene- ous series of twelve specimens. The color varies from rather pale rufo-ferruginous to piceous-black. Length 9.5-12.0 mm.; width 4 8-6.0 mm. All the species of this genus have a narrow, more or less incom- plete, median pronotal line which is impunctate. CffiLlIS Esch. The genus Coelus is peculiar to the coast regions of California, and is found in abundance in the sand dunes which line the sea- shore. The species are somewhat closely allied, but scarcely to so great a degree as in Coelotaxis and Coniontis. They may be recog- nized by the characters given in the following table : — Anterior angles of epistoma distinctly prominent; size large grossilS Anterior angles not at all produced, broadly rounded. Form narrowly oval ; pronotal punctuation very fine and sparse, unevenly distributed ciliatllS Form broadly oval ; pronotal punctuation coarse and deep. Punctures sparse areiiai'ilis Punctures dense, evenly distributed, sometimes semicoalescent. globosiis These species vary considerably in size, but the general outline and punctuation are quite constant, so that there can be no difficulty in identifying the forms here described. C. grossilS n. sp. — Form rather broadly oval, very convex ; dark castaneous to piceous-black, shining, minutely and sparsely setose above, more densely Coleopterological Notices. 179 so near the sides, the latter clliate with long erect setfe ; under surface and legs hut slightly paler. Head much hroader than long, coarsely and densely punctate ; sparsely punctate near the base, very convex, strongly declivous to the clypeal suture, which is well marked ; clypeus feebly convex, very broadly and strongly sinuate anteriorly ; labrum large, rufous in color ; near the clypeal suture there are several coarse flavate setse. Prothorax slightly more than twice as wide as long, transversely, strongly and evenly convex; sides feebly convergent from base to apex, distinctly and evenly arcuate: base transversely truncate ; angles — viewed laterally — very slightly obtuse and scarcely at all rounded ; apex strongly emarginate, fringed with flavate setre ; angles evenly and rather narrowly rounded ; disk irregularly punctate ; punc- tures rather sparse in the middle, coarser and slightly denser near the sides ; base having a fine coriaceous or semimembranous margin. Scutellura minute. Elytra slightly longer than wide, slightly more than twice as long as the i^ro- thorax ; sides parallel and feebly arcuate for three-fifths the length from the base, together thence evenly and somewhat parabolically rounded behind ; disk very strongly convex, finely rugulose, rather (soarsely and not densely punctate ; punctures evenly distributed, slightly coarser and sparser than those of the pronotum, slightly asperate. Legs rather short and robust ; tarsi slender, first joint of the anterior produced beneath the next three and the basal portions of the fifth. Length 8.8-12.5 mm. California (Monterey ; San Pedro). The distinguishing- features of this species are its large size and peculiarities of pronotal sculpture. In ciliatus the punctures of the pronotum are fine and nearly evenly distributed over the entire disk, while in grossus they are slightly coarser, and are almost entirely wanting in a broad band, crossing the disk at about one- third its length from the apex, but not attaining the lateral margins. This character is quite constant throughout a series of ten specimens which I have before me. C. globosus Lee. — I obtained two specimens of this species at San Diego, California. It may be distinguished from ciliatus and grossus b}' the very coarse and much denser pronotal punctuation, and the broadly oval form, being even more dilated than grossus. From arenarius it differs in its much denser punctuation and slightly broader form. C. arenarius n. sp. — Form rather broadly and evenly elliptical, convex, shining, piceous to piceo-castaneous. Head much broader than long ; clypeus broadly and feebly sinuate at apex ; lateral angles broadly rounded ; sutui-e deep, straight ; surface rather coarsely, densely punctate. Prothorax widest slightly before the base, more than twice as wide as long ; sides strongly con- vergent from base to apex, rather strongly arcuate; basal angles slightlv rounded ; apex broadly emarginate ; disk convex, coarsely, sparsely and 180 Coleopferological Notices. somewhat unevenly punctate ; punctures denser toward the lateral edges, where also they are intermingled with finer punctures. Elytra as wide as the prothorax, broadly rounded behind, but very slightly longer than wide, slightly more than twice as long as the prothorax ; surface convex, coarsely, deeply, rather sparsely and asperately punctate ; punctures slightly denser and more strongly granulose toward apex. Legs short. Length 6.5-8.5 mm. California (San Pedro, Los Angeles Co. 2). This species somewhat resembles the smaller forms of grossus, but may be known by the broadly rounded clypeal angles, these being narrowly rounded and distinctly produced anteriorly in that species. C ciliatus Esch. — This species is very abundant about San Francisco. The series of thirty specimens before me indicates but slight variability except in size, the specimens ranging from 4.8 to 8.0 mm. in length. Larva. The following description will serve for the identification of the larva of Coelus ciliatus. The specimens upon which the descrip- tion is based were found in a small sandy tract, in which S«>:?iJ;fiSM^ • ^^^ imago was more than usually plentiful, and un- doubtedly represent the true larva, ^ Bodi/ very elongate, slender, cylindrical. Surface shining, having a few very long fine setae, herissate with stiff fulvous setaj at the apex and sides of the head, and beneath the latter and the thoracic segments. Integuments coriaceous, paleluteo-testaceous ; head, prothorax and anal seg- ment subcorneous, darker, rufo- testaceous. Head as wide as the prothorax, as long as wide. Post-epistomal region slightly wider than long ; sides parallel, nearly straight ; 1 The figure on the left represents the entire body ; that to the right and above, the anterior portion of the head, more liighly magnified. Of the two Coleopterological Notices. 181 base transversely truncate; apex very broadly, feebly eraarginate in the middle three-fifths, receiving the base of the epistoma ; surface shining, witli a few erect dorsal setje, feebly and sparsely creased, having two oblique lines of coarse feeble punctures in front of the middle, and three in the middle near the epistomal margin ; side margins bristling with erect setae. Epistoma trapezoidal, transverse, feebly declivous ; apex transversely truncate ; apical two-fifths glabrous, shining, very feebly rugulose ; basal three-fifths densely covered with small, robust, spiniforra tubercles. Labrum strongly transverse, truncate at apex, having a loose fringe of short porrected setre along the apex ; surface broadly, very feebly convex, polished, glabrous, with a double line of small, erect, very robust spines near the apex. Mandibles not prominent, visible laterally ; surface flat ; outer margin broadly bilobed ; anterior lobe with an elevated margin ; posterior with a double line of coarse, erect spines near the lateral margin ; outer face bristling with erect, coarse setre. Antennje short, rather slender, foui--jointed ; third joint obconical, shorter than the second; fourth small, subulate, enlarged and bulbous at base, the enlarge- ment enclosed by the apex of the third joint. Maxillfe well developed ; base very large and prominent. Maxillary palpi rather slender, not compressed, with three free joints, the basal being very short, broad, and anchylosed to the supports; first free joint slightly longer than wide, truncate at apex, slightly obconical ; second fusiform, distinctly longer than wide, broadly truncate at base and apex ; third small, oblique, sides nearly parallel, twice as long as wide, two-thirds as long as the second, apex truncate. Mentum longer than wide, rather small, transversely, strongly convex ; surface setose, granulose, also coarsely asperate ; gular peduncle trapezoidal, well marked. Ligula slender, projecting far beyond the mentum. Labial palpi small, ap- parently of two joints, terminal slender, oblique, much longer than wide. Eyes wanting. Prothorax much longer than wide, slightly narrowed from apex to base ; sides very feebly arcuate ; apex and base broadly, transversely truncate ; surface cylindrical, having a double row of four small setigerous punctures near the middle and extending fi-om base to apex ; lateral suture inferior ; under surface behind the coxae conical, ascending upward from the base, shining, glabrous anteriorly, Setose toward base. Legs far before the middle, short, robust, com- pressed ; coxae approximate, short ; basal joint triangular, with a few short robust tubercles near the apex interiorly ; second larger, triangular, with a double row of small tuberculiform spines along the inner apex ; third as long as the second, longer than wide, with a row of long, erect, very strong spines along the inner edge ; terminal claw very large, acuminate at apex. Mesothorax short, scarcely longer than wide, cylindrical, constricted at apex ; surface with a few setigerous punctures anteriorly near the constriction, and a more widely distant row near the base. Legs at the middle of the segment, very small, rather robust. Surface before the coxte carinate in the middle ; remaining the one on the left represents the anterior leg with its coxa, and that on the right the antenna. 182 Coleopterological Notices. that behind them convex at the sides, the convexities being separated by two divergent, impressed grooves. Metathorux longer than wide, nearly cylindrical. Legs slightly behind the middle. Surface nearly as in the mesothorax. Abdominal segments longer than wide, subcyliudrical behind, more conical near the middle. Each segment having on the flanks a fine, impressed, very obliquely descending groove beginning before the middle; lines of juncture of the dorsal and ventral surfaces far inferior, straight, divergent from apex to base, strongly impressed. Anal seyment longer than wide, pointed, ogival, convex above, herissate with coarse, erect, fulvous setse more sparse dorsally, with a few dorsal spines and a row of erect spines parallel to and very near the edge extending from base to apex. Lower surface with two large tumid processes covered with short erect spines, arranged transversely near the middle and just before the anal orifice ; the latter closed by a small complicated fold which is not prominent ; surface thence to the apex on a superior plane, smooth. Length 18.0 mm. ; diameter 1.1 mm. CCELOMORPHA u. gen. (Coniontini). Body oval, convex, sparsely and minutely setose above, ciliate at the sides. Head inserted in the prothorax to the middle of the eyes, short, broad ; clypeus rounded at the sides, broadly sinuate anteriorly ; mentum moderate, obtrape- zoidal ; maxillae broadly exposed at the sides ; maxillary palpi well developed, third joint small, obconical, one-half as long as the second, fourth as long as the preceding two together, elongate, moderately dilated, cylindro-ovoidal, obliquely truncate within at apex ; labial palpi small, third joint feebly dilated, cylindro-ovoidal, acuminate at apex ; antennae very short, incrassate, 10-joiuted, first joint short, inserted in front of the coarsely granulated eyes and under the overlianging sides of the clypeus. Legs rather slender, spinu- lose ; posterior tarsi slender, basal joint elongate ; anterior tarsi scarcely as long as the tibiae, first joint large, produced beneath the second and third joints ; tibiae not sensibly produced exteriorly at apex, terminating in two short spurs and several small spinules. Epipleurae broad, rapidly diminishing in width toward the elytral apices which they attain. Scutellum minute, triangular. This genus is well distinguished from Coelus by its 10-jointed antennae and broad epipleurae, also by the form of the prothorax. The labrum is strongly retractile, and in three of the four speci- mens examined is completely invisible, the mandibles being fully exposed from above ; the organ is indeed so. fully retracted that merely the apex can be seen, even by looking far under the clypeus, which is separated from the mandibles by considerable intervening space. The fourth specimen is paler in color, and has the labrum protruded, showing this to be rather large and as usual broadly Coleopterological Notices. 183 sinuate at tip. The labrum is freely retractile in a great many- other genera of Tenehrionidte. The genus Coelus is a highly specialized form of the group Coni- ontini, which embraces two distinct types, distinguished primarily by antennal and tarsal structure, and represented by Crelus and Coniontis. The genus Ccelotaxis is the connecting bond between the two sections, since it possesses the long slender antennae of Coniontis, and, in a rudimentary degree, the tarsal structure of Coelus. Eusattus is closely related to Coniontis. Coilomorpha, on the other hand, while exhibiting a decided relationship with Coelus, is a still more highly specialized and extreme form, and perhaps may be considered a transition toward a group or genus now ex- tinct or not as yet discovered. This view is principally based upon the broad epipleurffi and the form of the basal portions of the pro- thorax. The prolongation of the basal joint of the anterior tarsus, which is most highly developed in Coelus and Coeloraorpha, is very mode- rate in Ccelotaxis and nearly obsolete in Coniontis, although in the latter a distinct tendency to prolongation may be perceived, the joint being very obliquely truncate at apex. In Eusattus the basal joint is much longer and more slender, and nearly every vestige of the prolongation is lost. If, therefore, the group be arranged systematicall}' in accordance with this character, the genera would stand in the following sequence: Coeloraorpha, Coelus, Ccelotaxis, Coniontis, and Eusattus. As a general rule in this group the basal angles of the prothorax are prominent and produced posteriorly, and, although in Coelus and a few species of Coniontis this character is nearly obsolete and the base of the prothorax almost straight and transverse, we can even in these cases clearly perceive the tendency to posterior pro- longation. In Coeloraorpha, however, this character is completely reversed, for the base of the prothorax becomes evenly and poste- riorly arcuate throughout its width, the basal angles being broadly rounded and gradually coarctate with the sides. C. maritima n. sp. — Rather broadly oval, convex, shining, piceous to pale ferruginous ; under surface and legs slightly paler. Head scabrous, herissate with coarse erect setae ; antennae very short, gradually and strongly incrassate, slightly compressed, scarcely two-thirds as long as the head ; eyes very coarsely granulate. Prothorax distinctly more than twice as wide as long, broadly convex, margined along the base, which is broadly and evenly arcuate, 184 Goleopterological Notices. witli a tliin membranous border, broarlly emarginate at apex ; sides feebly conveigeiit from base to apex, distinctly and evenly arcuate ; basal angles broadly rounded, apical much more narrowly so ; disk with a few widely and irregularly scattered punctures in the middle, which are coarse and excessively feebly impressed ; near the sides the punctures are much more dense, stronger and distinctly scabrous or subasperate. Elytra connate, very c<)nvex ; sides parallel and distinctly arcuate for three-fourths the length from the base ; together broadly rounded behind when viewed vertically, acute with the sides straight when viewed longitudinally ; disk excessively minutely subgranu- lose, finely rugulose, with fine, not dense, scabrous or subasperate punctures. Under surface moderately shining, finely, not densely and subasperately punctate. Epipleurae nearly flat, finely subrugulose and asperate. Length 2.9-4.0 mm. Lower California. The species above described is the smallest member of the group. Several specimens were secured by Mr. Gr. W. Dunn, who informs me that its habits are entirely similar to those of Coelus. lJL,OPORUS n. gen. (Tenebrionida?). Head short, broad, subdeflexed. Clypeus broadly rounded, not obliquely elevated at the sides. Eyes convex, moderate, coarsely faceted, extending slightly further beneath than above, neither divided nor emarginate. Antennae inserted under the acute lateral edges of the clyi^eus, almost adjoining the eye, moderate in length, very slender, the last three joints abruptly larger forming a distinct oblong club ; first and second joints elongate-oval, slightly more robust, the first slightly the longer and wider; third very slender, three times as long as wide, rather distinctly longer than the fourth ; eighth obconical, fully as long as wide ; ninth abruptly much wider, subtriangular, wider than long ; tenth obtrapezoidal, twice as wide as long ; eleventh as wide as the tenth, oval, slightly wider than long. Labrum very short, strongly transverse, truncate, the membranous band separating it from the clypeus fully as long as its exposed portion. Maxillse large, greatly exposed and prominent ; palpi well developed ; second joint long and slightly clavate ; third short ; fourth very large, strongly securiform. Ligula short, indistinct ; palpi rather small, not very robust ; third joint rather longer than the second, feebly conical, twice as long as wide. Mentura small, slightly elongate, dis- tinctly narrowed from apex to base and supported on a moderate peduncle. Prothorax short, wider from apex to base, the sides coarctate with those of the elytra, the sides of the pronotum margined with an elevated bead, the apex and base not margined, the latter fitted closely to the elytra. Prosternum short in front of the coxse, rather widely separating the latter, the process very largely developed behind the coxse, the apex angnlate and received in a deep impression of the mesosternum ; development behind the coxse — near their inner margins — as great as before them in the same longitudinal line. Coleopterological Notices. 185 Mesosternum very sliort ; coxae widely separated, liaving a distinct trocliaiitin. Metastermim moderate, the episterna moderate in width ; posterior coxfe almost contiguous, just visibly separated. Legs short; femora modei-ately i-obust ; tibire short, having two sets of terminal spurs, one at the inner and one at the outer edge ; spurs short and rather slender ; tarsi moderate in length, densely pilose beneath ; first joint elongate, penultimate very small, the basal joint of the posterior about as long as the entire rema,inder, the second obliquely and distinctly lobed beneath. Scutellum rather small, strongly transverse, strongly rounded behind. Epipleurje moderate in width, entire, horizontal behind, slightly broader and feebly inflexed toward base. Body evenly ellip- tical, moderately and evenly convex. The posterior margins of the second and third ventral segments being finely coriaceous, determines the position of this rather puz- zling genus to be in the Tenebrioninffi, and the eyes being more prominent than the sides of the front, together with other charac- ters above given, seems to indicate that it should be associated with the Diaperini, where for the present it may be placed near Platydema. U. ovalis n. sp. — Evenly elliptical, moderately convex, somewhat strongly shining, rather densely pubescent, the pubescence very fine and extremely short ; piceous, legs and antennje dark brownish-rufous. Head retractile, very feebly, evenly convex, not in the least tuberculate, very finely and densely punctate. Prothorax nearly twice as wide as long ; apex about two-thirds as wide as the base, the latter transverse with a broad very feebly arcuate median lobe ; basal angles — viewed laterally — nearly right, not rounded, apical rather broadly rounded, not at all prominent ; disk finely, very deeply and densely punctate. Elytra rather more than twice as long as the prothorax ; sides arcuate ; apex broadly rounded ; surface very finely, densely punctate, with vaguely defined series of slightly larger, widely distant punctures, the series without the slightest trace of impressed striae. Length 1.7 mm. Texas (Columbus). This species is widely diffused throughout the States bordering the Gulf of Mexico. I owe the specimen serving as the type of the above diagnosis, to the kindness of Mr. E. A. Schwarz, who discovered it in considerable abundance in the locality indicated. 186 Coleopterological Notices. APPENDIX. Contributions to the American Termitopiiilous Fauna. The species recently described in these Annals under the name Termitogaster insolens, was the beginning of a series of discoveries by Mr. J. Beaumont, in connection with certain studies in the life habits of Termes and its allied genera. The specimens of the species named above, were found incident- ally by Mr. Beaumont in the galleries of termites, and were trans- mitted by him, together with the neuropterous specimens serving in part as the basis of a recent paper by Mr. P. H. Dudley, which has just been published in the Transactions of this Academy. When the attention of Mr. Beaumont was called to the importance of his discovery, a more careful and systematic search was instituted, resulting in the capture of several very small specimens which have been placed in my hands for study by Mr. Dudley. These, as will be seen below, are found to represent two entirely new and very interesting genera, and, in addition, a new species of Termito- gaster. The coleoptera associated with the termites appear to be more specialized and more intimately connected with the life habits of their hosts than is the case with the more numerous m3n'mecophi- lous species, and their taxonomy is more difficult to a corresponding- degree. If any generalization can be made upon the little already known of these curious genera, it would appear that, having become so pro- foundly modified from the more usual types, — as seen for instance in Spirachtha, which is one of the most remarkable instances of adaptive development at present known, — it may be legitimate to suppose that the neuropterous termites are an older type geologi- cally than the hymenopterous ants, whose coleopterous guests are generally less radically modified. This is of course under the supposition that the rapidity of evolution or adaptation has been approximately constant in the two cases, and that the coleoptera are either intermediate in age between the termites and the ants, or that they are the most ancient of the three. The truth is, probably, Coleopferological Notices. 18T that the more highly specialized forms such as Spiraehtha, Corotoca aud Termitogaster, are very nearly contemporaneous in origin with the termites, while the less specialized forms such as Philotermes and the genera here described, are intermediate in age between the termites and true ants, since the latter genera are scarcely more modified than the majority of myrmecophilous forms. TERMITOGASTER Casey. In elytral structure the following species is an anomaly, and has scarcely a parallel in the entire order. T. fissipennis n. sp. — Anterior parts slender, compactly joined, parallel and subcylindrical ; abdomen strongly inflated ; color pale brownish-flavate throughout, the exposed membranous portions white, the elytra slightly pice- ous ; integuments slightly alutaceous, very sparsely setose. Head scarcely as long as wide, not deflexed ; sides short and parallel ; basal angles narrowly rounded ; base subtruncate, broadly arcuate, fitted into tlie apex of the prothorax almost throughout its width, the neck very wide; upper surface covered rather sparsely witli minute subasperate points, very feebly convex, broadly, feebly impressed in the middle. £i/es rather large, almost evenly oval, very slightly longer than wide, convex and distinctly prominent, finely faceted, longer and slightly more prominent than the tempora. Antenme about two-fifths as long as the body, rather slender, cylindrical, loosely articu- lated, strongly geniculate ; basal joint subequal to the next three combined ; two to four decreasing rapidly in length, the latter just visibly longer than wide, obtrapezoidal, the sides but very feebly oblique ; four to ten almost exactly similar, the ninth as long as wide, the tenth just visibly transverse; eleventh cylindro-ovoidal, pointed, as long as the two preceding ; all the joints sparsely setose and also finely pubescent, more densely so toward apex and almost glabrous toward base ; basal joint inserted in a small rounded entirely dorsal fovea, adjacent to the antero-superior margin of the eye. Front before the antennje advanced and' strongly arcuate at apex, the surface just before the apical margin elevated in two broad approximate cariniform tubercles, immediately in advance of which the surface is very short and strongly decliv- ous, the apical margin with a very minute deei) rounded emargination, having the sides in the form of fine carinse and with the apical projections extremely fine and acute, but not greatly advanced. Lahrinn distinct, transverse, broadly, strongly sinuate at apex, with the surface strongly impressed opposite the sinuation, separated from the front by a membranous sheath. Mentum large, longer than wide, broadly impressed ; apex very slightly narrower than the base ; sides parallel. Ligula very short, membranous, sinuate at apex — viewed dorsally — with a short cylindrical porrect process projecting from the bottom of the sinuation, the paraglossse apparently entirely obsolete. Labial pal/n very small, slender, the three joints decreasing uniformly and rapidly iu width, 188 Goleopterological Notices. cylindrical, the last two subeqiaal in length and together but slightly longer than the first. ]\faxUl(e large, greatly exposed and prominent, especially toward base, the basal plate not in the least spinose ; outer lobei well devel- oped, lunate, corneous, with the apex acute, the inner edge fringed with moderate setfe ; inner lobe not made out. Maxi/lari/ palpi very large, conspicu- ous, sjjarsely setose and irregular ; basal joint small, rather longer than wide, distinct ; second extremely asymmetric, slightly transverse, feebly convex on the outer side, deeply excavated on the inner ; third longer than wide, longer than the second, ovoidal, gradually pointed, convex on the outer side, liroadly excavated on the inner, the fourth joint minute and spiniform, not oblique. Mandibles moderate, not made out, closed in the type, Prothorax slightly wider than the head and a little wider than long ; sides nearly straight and parallel ; apex broadly strongly arcuate and rounded into the sides, the apical angles obsolete ; base truncate throughout the width and very feebly arcuate, the basal angles nearly right and very narrowly rounded. Pronotum extremely feebly, evenly convex, not impressed, shining, excessively minutely, sparsely, subasperately punctate, each point bearing an excessively minute erect pale setiform hair ; disk with two very widely distant subbasal set?e, and four, forming a trapezoid, in the apical half; viewed laterally the flanks are narrow and pierpendicular, scabrous, the lower edge sinuate just behind the detlexed apical angles, which are acute and continued in front of the coxae by the extremely short and almost lamellate ante-coxal prosternal piece. Prosternum extremely short, not one-third as long as the pronotum. Anterior coxce very long, loosely attached in the large membranous cavities, finely scabi'ous, almost glabrous ; femora long, the upper edge strongly arcu- ate, the tibiae as long as the femora, coarsely, rather densely setose within, with two external i-ows of long slender widely-spaced setiform spines- The disk of the pronotum in the male is very slightly wider, and more distinctly longer, than the head ; in the female the head is quite noticeably smaller, with the tempora not quite so prominent. Mesothorax moderate in length. Scutellnm rather large, transverse, ogival, in lai-ge part covered by the pronotum. Parapleune of the mesosternum finely scabrous, large and well developed. Cox(e very large, long, oblique, contigu- ous ; trochanters moderate, with a short obtuse dentiform process within, the femora rapidly narrowed near the point of attachment on the trochanters, the tibiae similar to the anterior but less densely setose within. Metasternum well developed. Eli/tra equal in length and basal width to the corresponding dimensions of the pronotum ; sides sti-aight and parallel, each elytron distinct, the two separated by an interval, which at the apex is equal 1 In insolens the outer lobe is shorter, wide, arcuate, the apex truncate inter- nally and bearing a row of short stiff spinules ; the inner lobe is very short, adjacent to the outer, the base obliquely corneous, the remainder semimem- branous, the apex with a row of short spinules almost continuous with those of the outer lobe. The disposition of the lobes is somewhat similar therefore to that of Homalota and Euiyusa. Coleoj)te7'oIogical Notices. 189 to their own width, the sides of the interval straight and feebly convergent anteriorly, abruptly terminating at a point just behind the scutellum, where it is about one-half as wide as at the apex ; surface coarsely and strongly reticu- late, scabrous on the vertical flanks, sparsely clothed with exceedingly short erect set£e, and each with two long setse near the inner margin, one near the base and another behind the middle ; flanks perfectly devoid of true epipleurae. Episterna large, triangular, very wide beliind, but covered by the elytra before attaining tlie humeri. (?o.rerceptibly punctate. Head very finely, sparsely pubes- 192 Coleopferological Notices. cent ; antennfe slightly shorter than the head, pronotum and elytra combined. Pfonotnm very slightly less than twice as wide as long, very feebly, transversely convex, not distinctly impressed, with a series of wide-spaced erect setse along the apical margin and thence along the sides to the middle, where they abruptly terminate ; disk extremely sparsely pubescent, the hairs subrecumbent, very minute toward the middle, longer and stiffer toward the sides, and posteriorly to basal fifth, where they abruptly terminate in a transverse line parallel to the base ; surface thence to the base glaln'ous, except a few minute hairs along the fine paler semi-coriaceous posterior edge, extending anteriorly along the sides to about the middle. Elytra polished, depressed ; sides straight, feebly divergent from base to apex, almost exactly similar in form to the pronotnm, and almost imperceptibly longer, at base slightly narrower, very sparsely clothed with rather stiff subrecumbent hairs, evenly but not regularly disposed. Abdomen distinctly longer than the anterior parts combined, and distinctly wider than the elytra ; sides arcuate ; upper surface almost glabrous, except the wide depressed border which is very finely and indistinctly pubes- cent ; under surface almost completely glabrous in the middle, bat very finely pubescent laterally. Length 1.8 mm. Coloinlna (Panama). In the male, which appears to be much more abundant than the female, the sixth segment is very broadl}^ rounded behind, the middle of the apical margin truncate or excessively feeblv incur- vate ; in the female this segment is broadly and feebly produced in the middle in a wide broadly rounded lobe. The elytra also appear to be very slightly shorter in the female. In dedicating this species to Mr. J. Beaumont, I wish to acknowl- edge a strong appreciation of the patience and scientific zeal on his part, which have led in so short a time to a decided advance in our knowledge of the interesting and apparently greatly diversified ter- mitophilous fauna of Tropical America. PERINTHIIS n. gen. (Aleocharini). Body nearly as in Myllsena, densely and very minutely pubescent. Head small, strtmgly deflexed, deeply inserted in a rounded apical emargi- uation of the prothorax ; portion behind the antennie much wider tlian long, not in tlie least constricted at base, the latter covered by the pronotum ; sur- face evenly, moderately convex. Eyes large, finely faceted, minutely, rather densely setose, not prominent, rounded, occupying nearly the entire sides of the head and, in repose, partially overlapped by the pronotum. Antenme inserted in small fovese adjacent to the anterior margin of the eye on the abruptly inclined and concave apical portion of the front — epistoma — which is corneous and separated from the front proper by a transverse finely cariniform line, which is sinuate behind each fovea, and anteriorly arcuate and more Coleopterological Notices. 193 ailvanced in the middle, abruptly terminating at each side at the antero- superior margin of the eye ; they are ll-jointed, moderate in length, very strongly flattened ; when viewed on the compressed side the sides are parallel as far as the fourth joint, thence narrowed to the base of the third ; first joint rather slender, longer than wide; second slightly narrower, much shorter, subcylindrical, longer than wide ; third obconioal, slightly longer than wide, compressed ; fourth about as long as wide, obtrapezoidal ; remaining joints subequal, truncate at base and apex, with the sides almost parallel, in close contact throughout the width, rather more than one-half wider than long on the compressed side, and very slender, fully one-half longer than wide on the edge, the eleventh joint slightly shorter than the two preceding. Apical mar- gin of the epistoma membranous, truncate, the lahrnni large, prominent, wider than long, with the apical angles broadly rounded, the apex with a small feeble median sinuation. Mandibles small, arcuate, acute and simple at the immediate apex. Mentum large, equilatero-triangular, with the sides straight ; surface flat ; apex very narrowly truncate ; basal half corneous, aj^ical mem- branous, the dividing line feebly sinuate, not at all impressed. Ligula mode- rate, wider than the apex of the mentum, rather long, with a prominent deeply bifid median process, the paragloss?e not well developed. Lahial paljii robust at base, the joints rapidly decreasing in thickness ; third subulate. MaxilUe moderate, feebly exserted ; lobes small, ciliate. Alaxillary palpi of the usual type, rather slender ; second joint shorter than the third ; fourth subulate. Lower surface without trace of infra-ocular ridge, the eyes approaching within a very short distance of the buccal cavity. Prothorux strongly developed dorsally, very feebly so ventrally. Pronotnm large, strongly, transversely convex, moderately narrowed from base to apex ; basal angles evenly, somewhat obtusely rounded and slightly produced poste- riorly, the base being incurvate and subtruncate between them. Hijpomera very wide, extremely strongly inflexed, parallel to the strongly inclined flanks of the pronotnm. Prosternwn very small, extremely short in front of the coxse, the latter large, conical and convex. Mesothorax short. Scutellum invisible, completely concealed by the greatly overlapping free edge of the pronotum. Mesosternal side-pieces ample, entire ; coxae large, contiguous. Metuthonix moderate. Elytra, truncate, apparently connate, very short and transverse, as wide as the prothorax, but slightly more than one-half as long, transversely convex ; flanks strongly inclined, the epipleurse very strongly inflexed and almost parallel to the flanks, deep ; suture very fine but distinct. Metasternum wide ; episterna narrow, parallel ; coxse moderate, contiguous, lamellate and transverse laterally. Abdomen at base slightly narrower than the elytra, conical ; sides rapidly convergent to the acute apex and nearly straight, consisting of six segments which are moderate in length, each having a single transverse series of long widely-spaced apical setse above and beneath. Upper surface moderately convex, the border narrow, normal, moderately deep. Lower surface more strongly convex. Annals N. Y. Acad. Sci., V, Feb. 1890—13. 194 Coleopterological Notices. Lerji> short. Femora stout, the flanks produced beneath slightly at apex, forming a channel for the partial reception of the tibiae. TibioB slender, short, cylindrical, truncate, without terminal spurs or spinules and devoid of long external setse. Tarsi short, slender, cylindrical, densely pubescent, about two-thirds as long as the tibiae, 4-jointed on all the legs ; first joint of the posterior distinctly longer than the next two together and a little longer than the fourth. Ungues small and slender. This genus is also somewhat isolated, harmonizing but remotely with any of the more usual forms of the great and composite group to which it is assigned. The extraordinary compressed, almost tape-like antennae, deep flanks of the pronotum and elytra, which extend far below the plane of the lower surface, very short elytra, long conspicuous tactile setiB, ancl four-jointed tarsi, form a combi- nation of characters for which it is difficult to find a fitting place in the series. The sexual characters, also, are very singular. In the male the apex of the abdomen is not modified beneath, the sixth segment being evenly rounded behind, but dorsally, the posterior edge of the first segment is strongly emarginate in middle fourth, the bottom of the emargination being transverse. In the female the sixth segment is rounded as in the male, but the basal segment is entire. P. DudleyailltS n. sp. — Piceous ; abdomen slightly paler ; under sur- face, legs and antennae pale brownish-flavate ; surface lustre alutaceous, the pubescence exceedingly short, fine, dense, slightly cinereous and conspicuous, the long tactile setae very conspicuous, these consisting of six longitudinal series on the pronotum — counting those of the lateral edges — and a transverse series just before the middle of the elytra, the latter being simply the terminal setae of the pronotal series, the setae of the abdomen being a further continu- ation of the pronotal series. Head small, only the occiput visible from above, the anterior portions of the body appearing to be semicircularly rounded, much less than one-half as wide as the base of the prothorax ; antennae about as long as the head and prothorax together. Prothorax nearly one-half wider than long, narrowed from base to apex, subconical ; sides very feebly arcuate. Elytra about equal in width to the prothorax, strongly transverse ; sides parallel and nearly straight ; disk scarcely perceptibly more than one-half as long as the pronotum. Abdomen distinctly longer than the anterior parts combined, conical, acute. Length 1.4-1.7 mm. Colombia (Panama). ' Taken in considerable abundance by Mr. Beaumont. A good series has been given me by my friend Mr. P. H. Dudley, to whom it gives me great pleasure to dedicate this very interesting species. Coleopterolofjical Notices. 195 Tn glancing through the plates of Schiodte's splendid work on coleopterous larva3, we cannot resist drawing a few minor generali- zations with reference to the great persistency of larval type which prevails throughout some families, as for instance the Scarabseidse and TenebrionidEe, and the enormous diversity of type exhibited by others, notably the Staphylinidae, there being scarcely a correspond- ing diversity of imaginal type in the latter, although the imago is undoubtedly more heterogeneous than in either of the families before mentioned. Incidentally we may perhaps be warranted in inferring that the Scarabasidse and Tenebrionidse, being more homogeneous and less differentiated in both larval and perfect stage, are more recent in origin than the strongly differentiated Staphylinidse ; this is of course under the general premise that multiplication of species is due to differentiation from fewer and more synthetic ancestral forms, although I am aware that Dr. Sharp holds that there is but slight evidence of such divergence in the Dytiscidis. The truth is, probably, that the Staphylinidye constitute one of the most ancient types of coleoptera. Regarding the curious object described below, it can only be said that if it be staphylinide, as there is some reason to suppose, it will add another notable element to the heterogeneity characterizing that interesting family. Or, conversely, its wide departure from the usual types of coleopterous larvae will not, of itself, be an obstacle in the way of its assignment thereto. In this connection it is desirable to make the following observations : — 1. The specimens were received in two small tubes which, in one in.stance, contained besides only specimens of Termitogaster insolens, and in another, only Perinthus Dudlexjanus. Mr. Beaumont seems to have been careful to isolate his material, and it may -be very safely assumed that the larvas and beetles were taken together from the same nest. 2. As far as its general nature is concerned, I believe it to be cole- opterous, although in antennal structure it is exceedingly exceptional for that order, being approached in this respect, within n^y knowl- edge, only by Cyphon. The dense squamose vestiture, enormous development of the labial palpi and tarsal structure are also exceed- ingly peculiar. 3. Assuming it to be coleopterous, I am quite convinced that it cannot be related in any way to Termitogaster, but think that it may possibly be the larva of Perinthus, the long tactile seta? of the 196 Coleopterological Notices. upper surface, as well as the conical and attenuate form of the abdomen, reminding us forcibly of F. Dudleyanus. Whatever future investigation may prove it to be, the following- short description will serve to make known its most salient charac- ters : — Body fusiform, obtusely rounded in front, attenuate and acute behind — nearly as in Lepisma, but with the abdomen more strongly and evenly coni- cal,— convex, and covered densely above and beneath with large pearly-white closely recumbent strigose scales ; integuments soft, membranous and pure white throughout. The head is deflexed, densely squamose, devoid of eyes and ocelli, having the antennje inserted on the front, approximate and sepa- rated by a narrow very feeble ridge, very perceptibly attenuate from base to apex, rather more than one-fourth as long as the body, cylindrical, 12-jointed, the subbasal joints short, closely approximate or subconnate, the outer more elongate and more loosely articulated, the joints annulated with fine impressed grooves, one to three in number. The maxillary palpi are moderate in length, cylindrical, 4-jointed, the last joint longest. The labial palpi are large and strongly developed, with the last joint very large, ovate, pointed at apex, concave without and convex within. The three segments of the thorax are distinct, the flanks thin and descending very noticeably below the plane of the lower surface, the pronotum as long as the mesonotum and metanotum combined, each of the dorsal segments, including those of the thorax, bearing a transverse apical series of long widely spaced tactile seta. The six legs are short, the coxje large, conical, the femora robust, the tibiae robust, cylindrical, each with a large terminal spur ; tarsi cylindrical, composed of two joints, the second twice as long as the first ; claws two in number, minute, arcuate. The abdominal segments are ten in number, counting the small terminal segment, which bears a small axial anal style composed of seven or eight joints ; there are also two short lateral anal stylets, composed of a few closely connate joints ; the sutures between the abdominal segments almost concealed by the dense vestiture. The length of the largest specimen examined is 2.5 mm., the greatest width being 0.8 mm. One of the most remarkable structures distinguishing this larva is a very large fleshy appendage projecting from the lower surface of the abdomen, just behind the fifth segment, and nearly as large as the entire abdominal vertex beyond it. It is mobile about its point of attachment, elongate-oval, longitudinally and very narrowly divided throughout the length, forming two thick elongate cylindro- conical lobes, which are densely, finely pubescent, and provided in addition with long sparse setae, especially at the sides. The lobes are divided by transverse sutures into six segments, of which the three basal are very large, together occupying four-fifths of the length, the three last small and composing the rapidly acuminate Coleopterological Notices. 197 portion ; at the apex of each there is a very short two-jointed styli- form process. This organ is held in repose in a long very deep ex- cavation extending through the last four or five abdominal segments, so that when at rest it is not distinctly noticeable, its lower surface being continuous with the lower surface of the abdomen. It is apparently an auxiliary organ of locomotion, analogous to the infra- apical process characterizing many well-known staphylinide larv^ ; but no such development as this has to my knowledge been observed before. Another larva-like object, possibly of a coleopterous nature, was inclosed in the tube containing the only specimens of Abroteles Beaumonti which were obtained, but I am very doubtful of its connection in any way with that species ; it seems to be too large and wide and to contain more matter than would suffice for the body of the insect mentioned. The large well-developed eyes, large securiform maxillary palpi, and elongate 5-jointed tarsi are wonderful characters, almost irre- concilable with what we know of coleopterous larvae. The follow- ing description will perhaps serve for its future recognition : — Body evenly oblong-elliptical, depressed, with the ui:)per surface broadly, feebly convex, broadly rounded before and behind. The upper surface is strongly reticulate, alutaceous, pale brownish-piceous in color, and covered sparsely with very short robust spinose setse. The head is deflexed very strongly, reposing upon the under surface of the prothorax ; it is rather large, triangular, the eyes at the sides convex, large, and composed of many coarse convex facets. The antennae are inserted in very large widely distant fovese on the front before the eyes, and are defective in the only specimen ; there are four joints remaining, the outer deeply annulated, and showing that tliere has been at least a terminal process broken therefrom. The epistoma is large and separated by a distinct broadly sinuous suture. The labrum large, subquad- rate. Maxillary palpi well developed, with the last joint very large and strongly securiform. The six legs are about equal, rather long and well developed ; coxae very long, conical, obliquely recumbent posteriori}', the posterior large flat ; femora elongate, flattened ; tibise long, cylindrical, with two strong well-developed distant terminal spurs ; tarsi long, very slender, cylindrical, the posterior nearly as long as the tibiae, distinctly 5-jointed on all the legs, the first and fifth joints elongate, the intermediate short ; claws two in niimber, well developed, arcuate. The pronotum is much wider than long and longer than the other two parts of the thorax combined, it is finely canaliculate in the middle throughout the length. The abdomeu consists of 198 Col eojjterologicaJ Notices. nine very short segments, the sutures very deep and distinct, the apex with two pairs of very short anal stylets, but without median style. Length 2.4 rnin. ; width 1.0 mm. It is possible that this may be an apterous larva-like female imatj'o. The integuments are soft and membranous, the head, and upper surface semicoraceous. The mandibles are short stout, alike, and deeply notched and bifid at apex. The general form of the body somewhat approaches that of the larva of Siinlomium seyre/iim as figured l;)y Schiodte, l)ut is more elongate and with the sides more parallel. QL 573 Ent. Casey, Thomas Lincoln, 1857'-1925. Coleopterological notices. 573 C3 Efnt.