SUBFAMILY XI. TIIKCKSTERNIX.K. 



517 



plate being a modification of the prosternmn. (Fig. 113. ) The 

 genus is represented in the United States, according to Pierce, by 

 eight or more nominal species, though but one is recognized in 

 the Henshaw Catalogue. Of these LeConte (185G, 38) described 

 six, which were based largely upon the development or prolonga- 

 tion of the humeral angles of the elytra. Twenty years later 

 (1876, 12), with more abundant material, he combined these with 

 Say's original Jninieralis, staling that ''there are all gradations, 

 from typical JiuiiicraUs in which the humeral processes are fully 

 one-third as long as thorax, to T. inorltiUosus Lee., in which the 

 elytra are truncate at base and the humeral angles only slightly 

 prolonged." Tierce (1909, 334) has described four additional 

 forms from Texas and New Mexico. 



815 (8229). THECESTERNUS HUMERALTS Say, 1826, 254; ibid, II, 316. 



Elongate-oblong, robust. Dull black, usually densely covered with a 

 crust of minute brownish-yellow scales. Beak 

 shorter than head, almost hidden in repose; front 

 deeply sulcate. Thorax as wide as long, widest at 

 middle, narrowed in front; disc marked with very 

 coarse irregular, seta-bearing punctures and with 

 four large shallow impressions. Elytra slightly 

 wider at base than thorax, somewhat pointed be- 

 hind, humeral angles strongly produced forward 

 along the sides of base of thorax; disc with rows 

 of large irregular fovese; intervals alternately 

 more elevated and bearing rows of very short 

 white bristles. Ventral segments coarsely and 

 sparsely punctured. Length 6.5 9 mm. (Fig. 

 113.) 



Crawford and Posev counties, Ind., 



Fig. 113. A, Beetle X 4! 



B, front view of head and scarce; May 7 June 26. Taken from be- 

 fore coxas showing a, 



plate in front of fore Heath stones and dried cow dung on high 



coxx, b, beak and mandi- 

 bles, c, cox;e. (Original.) rocky slopes. Palos Park, 111., Sept. 20. 



Originally found under dried buffalo dung in the Western States. 

 Eiley states that it sometimes "cuts off the blossoms of grape 

 vines in May." Ranges from Indiana and Tennessee to Colorado, 

 Kansas and Texas. According to Pierce's table, loc. cit., our 

 eastern form may be considered as var. a f fin is Lee., having the 

 humeral angles only slightly produced forward and covering the 

 basal angles of thorax; elytra less than two and a half times as 

 long as thorax, their sides convex. 



