4<D MELANDER AND BRUES. 



narrower, shorter, and more oblique, subapical grooves nearer the tip of 

 the segment, its apex with less of the fulvous color. The upper apical 

 teeth less stronger pronounced than in male, lower ones more pronounced. 

 Venter piceous. 



This interesting little species, the smallest North American 

 representative of the genus is described from two specimens, the 

 male, taken in California, during August, by Dr. O. S. Westcott 

 and the female during last June at Galveston, Texas, by our- 

 selves. It is not probable that the two sexes represent different 

 species, for the arrangement of the teeth of the apical abdominal 

 segment is not constant in Parnopes. The difference in coloration 

 seems largely due to the age of the specimens. The male speci- 

 men seems not to be so fully chitinized as the other. 



The nearest congener of this species is fnlvicornis, from Pre- 

 sidio, Mexico. It is readily distinguished by the tabulated dif- 

 ferences. A specimen from Washington, in the collection of the 

 American Entomological Society seems referable to this species. 



PSAMMOPHILA Dahlbom. 



The genus PsammophUa, established by Dahlbom, in 1842, is 

 now represented by at least six species from America, north of 

 Mexico ; and possibly by another species (violaceipennis) which 

 was described by St. Fargeau as American. As the species was 

 from Pennsylvania and has not since been recognized, it seems 

 quite possible that the type was not from America. From his 

 description it is no doubt a PsammophUa and has been included 

 in the table. 



AmmopJiila collaris Cresson, which has been referred to Psant- 

 mopliila does not belong there ; it is a true AnimopJiila. 



The following dichotomy will serve to separate the species : 



Body whol ly bl ack 3 



Abdomen more or less ferruginous 2 



2. Pubescence of thorax wholly black 4 



Pubescence of thorax more or less gray or white 5 



3. Face and clypeus without silvery pile, body polished 3 luctnosa Sm. 



Face and clypeus silvery pilose, body more or less silvery pollinose. 



4 argentifrons Cress. 



4. Abdomen entirely ferruginous, mandibles wholly black I valida Cress. 



Abdomen in part black 6 



5. Petiole short, not extending beyond posterior trochanters, stout species, 



22 mm 2 grossa Cress., $ . 



