172 MEMOIRS ON THE COLEOPTERA 



that it is a misprint and therefore may as well be corrected, on the 

 principle that specific words, if not conveying the contemplated 

 meaning, may be altered. This principle, however, does not apply 

 to generic names. 



MYCETOPHAGID^: 



In my previous work on this family I unfortunately adopted the 

 name Tritomidae, which was given out by the most authoritative 

 European catalogue as being the correct designation, notwith- 

 standing the fact that the word Tritoma was wholly inappropriate 

 for what had been called Mycetophagus. Subsequently the com- 

 pilers of this catalogue determined that their previous course was 

 wrong and that Mycetophagidse is the proper designation for the 

 family; so we will all change back again that is all except those 

 who were wise enough never to have made the change. 



Mycetophagus Hellw. 



On considering more carefully the description given by Mel- 

 sheimer (Proc. Acad. Phila., 1844, p. 114) of the form named by him 

 bimaculatus, now considered a synonym of flexuosus Say, I am quite 

 convinced that, until rediscovered, it would be safer to regard it as a 

 subspecies of flexuosus, rather than a synonym. This appears to be 

 evident on looking over extended series of both punctatus Say, and 

 flexuosus, when the slight amount of variation in the color pattern 

 becomes apparent. Bimaculatus is said to have the elytra rufo- 

 testaceous, each with two large irregular black spots, the anterior 

 attaining the lateral margin but not the suture and the posterior 

 contiguous to the suture, but scarcely attaining the lateral edge. 

 The probabilities are that it is a distinct species, which has never 

 since been taken so far as known. 



A number of undescribed species have recently been received, 

 belonging in every case to Mycetophagus proper, and in no instance 

 to any of the subgenera heretofore denned. The following two are 

 allied to subdepressus: 



Mycetophagus quadralius n. sp. Outline notably abbreviated and 

 relatively broad as in subdepressus, not very shining, the pubescence 

 rather dense on the elytra; color above black, each elytron with a quad- 

 rate humeral, and a more irregularly oval subapical, testaceous spot, the 

 humeral not including the actual humeral angle; under surface brown, 



