ClCINDELID/E AND CARABID^E 147 



certain collections with which they had been compared. Referring 

 to the original descriptions and measurements, it becomes apparent 

 at once that I do not have impressicollis or laticollis at all ; the former 

 is a small species 12 by 5 mm. in size, and has more distinct trans- 

 verse thoracic impressions than the others; the latter is about 14 

 mm. in length. It should be said in this connection that certain 

 past studies in this genus have been especially superficial in the 

 endeavor to reduce the number of species; some of the proposed 

 synonymy, such as the association of assimilis with laticollis and 

 striatopunctatus with impressicollis, will fail to bear the light of 

 reason. Major is abundantly distinct from the other hitherto 

 published species in its large size, cephalic characters and in other 

 respects; it bears no resemblance to laticollis, other than in generic 

 facies and is not by any means a subspecies. The type locality of 

 laticollis Lee., is Syracuse, N. Y., and the Austin, Texas, specimen 

 representing it in my former study does not seem to accord very well 

 with the description given by LeConte. The size of the head in 

 this genus differs among the various species nearly as in Diccdus; 

 in planulata and nupera, for instance, it is relatively very small in 

 comparison with expansa, being scarcely half as wide as the prothorax. 

 The hind angles of the prothorax are sharply defined and a little 

 more than right throughout in the species here defined. The species 

 are moderately numerous, though less so than in Diccelus; those 

 represented in my cabinet may be separated as follows : 



Large species, not under 17 mm. in length: head large, always distinctly 

 more than half as wide as the prothorax 2 



Smaller species, never over 15 mm. in length, the head relatively smaller 

 as a rule 3 



2 Form broadly oval, feebly convex, deep black and shining; head large, 

 fully three-fifths as wide as the prothorax, the anterior impression 

 large, extending half way to the base; labrum deeply emarginate, 

 the bottom of the sinus rounded; antennae slender, of the usual 

 form; prothorax large, three-fourths as wide as the elytra, less than 

 three-fifths wider than long, but little narrowed apically, the sides 

 broadly rounded, becoming feebly convergent and straight or broadly 

 and very feebly sinuate basally; surface with the stria somewhat 

 abbreviated apically and basally as usual in this group of the genus 

 distinct, the posterior impressions at outer fourth deep, longitudinal 

 and linear, the surface thence to the angles broadly subdepressed; 

 elytra oblong, with broadly arcuate parallel sides, nearly one-half 

 longer than wide, the striae usually punctulate, fine and feebly 

 impressed, the sixth almost and the seventh completely obliterated; 



