PTEROSTICHIN^; 371 



there being no trace whatever of the usual carina. The scutellar 

 stria is well developed. Besides mcssta Say, the type of this genus, 

 I know of no other species that can be included at present. How- 

 ever, in the LeConte table of Pterostichus, the species superciliosus 

 Say, which is unknown to me, has apparently, by the context, four 

 discal elytral punctures as in mcestus, but is said to have the tho- 

 racic angles carinate, the color purple and the surface shining; it is 

 uncertain how close may be its affinities with Refonia mcesta. 



Abacidus Lee. 



This genus will include species of the fallax section, besides per- 

 mundus, planifer and hamiltoni. It seems to be a valid generic 

 group, the species having a strongly defined and isolated habitus. 



Gastrosticta n. gen. 



The chief distinguishing characteristics of this genus are the small 

 size of the body, very polished integuments, pedunculated hind 

 body, obsolescent lateral striae of the elytra, the three dorsal punc- 

 tures and the conspicuous coarse punctuation of the lateral parts of 

 the abdomen, besides some mentioned in the above table of genera. 

 The scutellar stria is wanting or extremely short. There are two 

 distinct sections as follows: 



Body more nearly parallel, the single pronotal foveae very nearly longi- 

 tudinal ; hind thoracic angles apparently always obtuse and rounded . 2 



Body shorter, more ventricose, the foveae very oblique, deeper and 

 shorter; hind angles less blunt, sometimes minutely and acutely 

 prominent 5 



2 Base of the prothorax but very little wider than the peduncle of the 

 hind body 3 



Base of the prothorax very distinctly wider than the peduncle 4 



3 Body above black, polished, beneath piceous-black; antennae piceous, 

 with ferruginous hairs towards the tip; labrum deep piceous; palpi 

 piceous; thorax before the middle as broad as the elytra, gradually 

 much contracted behind; base hardly wider than the pedicel; lateral 

 margin not depressed; edge not excurved behind; dorsal line slightly 

 impressed; basal lines distinct, conspicuously punctured; elytra nar- 

 rowed behind; striae punctured; interstitial lines hardly convex; pec- 

 tus impunctured; feet rufo-testaceous; postpectus and venter punc- 

 tured. Length rather more than two-fifths of an inch [say 10.5 

 mm.]. Missouri. [Feronia ventralis Say] ventralis Say 



Body smaller, slender, pale testaceous in color, slightly darker beneath, 

 the legs testaceous; head rather narrow, with only feebly prominent 

 eyes; antennae testaceous; mandibles small, strongly arcuate; pro- 



