24 MEMOIRS ON THE COLEOPTERA 



Omus marginalis n. sp. Male more slender than usual in this group, 

 subopaque, the elytra shining; head but just visibly narrower than the 

 prothorax, moderately rugulose, the front medially feebly rugulose, not 

 punctate; labral lobe prominent, truncate; antennae notably short, 

 piceous distally; prothorax scarcely over a fifth wider than long, the sides 

 moderately converging and very evenly arcuate from apex to base, which 

 the side margins attain, the base very feebly bisinuate; surface feebly 

 rugulose peripherally, the anastomosing lines feeble and widely separated 

 discally in the type; elytra of peculiar form, two-thirds longer than 

 wide, widest behind the middle, the sides thence feebly converging and 

 scarcely at all arcuate to the humeri, which are basally exposed and 

 distinct; side margins more strongly reflexed than in any other form, 

 abruptly so as usual; punctures rather close, very coarse and deep, without 

 granules except at base; basal region abruptly free from punctures; legs 

 slender; anterior tarsi strongly dilated, the third just barely wider than 

 long and distinctly narrower than the second. Length (cf) 13.7 mm.; 

 width 5.35 mm. California (Tuolumne Co., May 29, 1914). 



The peculiarities of this form as detailed above, entitle it to the 

 specific status apparently without much doubt. 



Group VIII (Icevis) 



The nature of the elytral sculpture is the chief feature separating 

 this group from the horni and seguoiarum groups, the punctures 

 sometimes, as in lams, being completely wanting, and, where present, 

 as in tularensis, displaying a form wholly unlike that seen elsewhere 

 in the subgenus, being very feebly impressed, without trace of 

 granules and gradually more and more obsolete basally. Parallel 

 to the basal margin and considerably removed therefrom, there is 

 usually an irregular series of fine granules representing the basal 

 limit of punctures in other groups. The sparse foveae are very 

 shallow, but each bears the usual seta which, as usual, is very easily 

 lost. 



out avoiding so far as possible the mistakes and pitfalls to which we are all liable 

 the various forms that have been evolved through processes of evolution, and, after 

 completing this time consuming labor, it is natural to wish to render it permanent by 

 assigning names to the various forms. The latter, tTiough very closely allied among 

 themselves as a rule, are constant within their restricted habitats and are not synonyms, 

 except in the grotesque conception of a certain school of systema lists, who imagine 

 that they are thus simplifying what really cannot be simplified. Nature cannot be 

 forced into simplicity; she loves the complex and, in order to record her truthfully, 

 we have to become the chief bete noire of all, to those who find patient research burden- 

 some. Incidentally it is distasteful to me to find my personality repeated so many 

 times after these names as sponsor for them, but if others will not do their part some- 

 one must, even if he be accused thereby of suffering from aggravated "mini itch." 



