HlSTERID.^ 237 



very finely, densely rugulose, without trace of punctures, but in 

 tristriatus it is said to be sparsely punctured. Loripes is also allied 

 closely to the Montana specimens at hand, which appear to repre- 

 sent horni Wick., but there also the head is shining and sparsely, 

 clearly punctate, under the erect hairs, the elytra and pronotum 

 more uniformly punctured, the general outline less broad and the 

 elytra more abbreviated. Wheeleri, from near San Francisco, and 

 exigmis, from the Puget Sound region, recently described and 

 admirably illustrated by Mr. W. M. Mann, both have broad 

 flattened tibiae, but very fine elytral striae. Californicus of Horn, 

 seems to have long pubescence on the upper surface. The species 

 are probably numerous and all seem to be well characterized in 

 various ways. 



Epierus Erichs. 



In this very distinct genus the antennal club is clearly divided by 

 two transverse sutures and, in repose, is sheltered partially in an 

 undefined concavity on the anterior part of the hypomera and 

 under the overreaching antero-lateral margin of the prosternum. 

 The prosternum, medially, has two long strong parallel striae, the 

 mesosternum is broadly, feebly sinuate and the scutellum is distinct. 

 The sexes are sometimes characterized by cephalic differences, such 

 as are observable in the small male frontal horn in decipiens Lee. 

 (nasutus Horn cT) and cornutus Csy. Decipiens is entered in our 

 lists under the name planulus Er., which pertains to a Venezuelan 

 species, probably somewhat different from ours. I have not been 

 able to identify novellus Zimm., but have at hand a number of 

 hitherto undescribed species as follows: 



Epierus oblongus n. sp. Elongate, parallel, with evenly and very 

 moderately arcuate sides throughout, castaneous, shining and feebly 

 sculptured; head infinitesimally and sparsely punctulate, smoothly con- 

 vex longitudinally and strongly declivous in front as usual; prothorax 

 one-half wider than long, the sides broadly arcuate, becoming gradually 

 only just visibly divergent basally; surface finely, sparsely punctate, 

 obsoletely so toward the sides; elytra slightly elongate and two-thirds 

 longer than the prothorax, moderately convex and with six entire and 

 finely punctulate, basally free striae, the flanks between the first discal and 

 the lateral not at all striate; pygidia finely, sparsely punctate, the pro- 

 pygidium less finely; meso-metasternal suture wholly wanting, the apex 

 distinctly margined, the lateral oblique striae straight and almost reaching 

 the abdomen; prosternal lobe finely, strongly beaded. Length 2.0 mm.; 

 width i.i mm. Florida. 



