SILPHA. 95 
1. Silpha truncata. 
Silpha truncata, Say, Journ. Ac. Phil. iii. p. 193’; Complete Writings, ii. p. 123; Lec. Col. Kans. 
p. 6, t. 1. £.3°; Horn, Trans. Am. Ent. Soe. viii. p. 237°. 
Elongate, rather depressed, deep black, rather shining, the elytra abruptly truncate, the abdomen long. Head 
small, finely and closely punctured; eyes large and rather prominent. Thorax rather small, not twice 
broader than long, widest at the base, very closely and finely punctured, with a deep impression near each 
posterior angle, and sometimes on the disc also; sides moderately rounded and margined ; basal margin 
trisinuate, with the angles obtuse. Scutellum large, finely and closely punctured, with the apex acuminate. 
Elytra short, abruptly truncate, much broader and more than twice longer than the thorax, widest at the 
extremities, very finely and closely punctured; sides nearly straight, and broadly margined. Abdomen 
often much exposed, very closely and finely punctured, all the segments except the last deeply margined. 
Legs and antenne moderate, black, with the club of the latter considerably incrassated. Underparts 
very closely and finely punctured. Long. ad extr. elytrorum 6-7 lin.=12-14 millim. Lat. elytrorum 
33-4 lin.=7-8 millim, 
Hab. Norta America !, Nebraska ?, Kansas°, New Mexico 3, Arizona 3.—MExIco, 
Pinos Altos in Chihuahua, Rio Mescales (Buchan-Hepburn), Ciudad in Durango (Forrer), 
Santa Clara in Chihuahua, Durango city, Chilpancingo, Jalapa, Mexico city (Hége), 
Puebla (Sadié). 
S. truncata may be readily known by its smooth upper surface and abruptly truncate 
elytra. It is a common insect in Northern Mexico. 
2. Silpha ramosa. 
Silpha ramosa, Say, Journ. Ac. Phil. ii. p. 193*; Complete Writings, ii. p. 128; Lec. Proc. Ac. 
Phil. 1858, p. 279°; Horn, Trans. Am. Ent. Soe. viii. p. 241°. 
Perfectly oval, convex, deep black, not shining, finely and very closely punctured ; with three elevated angu- 
lated lines on each elytron, from which short angulated lines branch off transversely on each side. Head 
moderate, rather short, closely punctured ; eyes moderate, with two short sete arising from the lower 
margin of the orbit. T’horaa one half broader than long, widest at the base, very closely and very finely 
punctured, with a faint dorsal line on the disc only, and three faint impressions near the base; sides 
margined and faintly rounded; base produced towards the scutellum and sinuated at the sides; all the 
angles obtuse. Scwtellum broad, acuminate at the apex, deeply and closely punctured. lytra entire, 
nearly three times longer, and slightly broader than the thorax, widest beyond the middle, marked with 
three elevated and angulated longitudinal lines, branching on each side into short transverse angulated 
lines ; interstices very finely and very closely punctured ; sides scarcely rounded, and broadly margined ; 
apex entire and obtuse. Legs and antenne moderate, black, with the club of the latter very slightly 
incrassated. Underparts black. Long. corp. 7-8 lin.=14-16 millim. 
Hab. Nortna America, United States ! 2,X—Mexico, Northern Sonora (Morrison). 
One example. This well-named species may be recognized by the sculpture of its 
elytra, which much resembles the branches of a fruit-tree trained against a wall. 
S. ramosa is a very widely-distributed species in the United States, and extends south- 
ward to Sonora. 
3. Silpha analis. 
Necrodes analis, Chevr. Mag. Zool. 1843, Col. Mex. p. 26°. 
Ovate, depressed, rather shining, black, with the thorax red, the elytra entire with three strongly elevated longi- 
