NATURAL SCIENCES OP PHILADELPHIA. 235 



1. P. bistriatum Lee, Class. Col. 205. Anobium bistr. Say, Journ. Acad. 

 Nat. Sc, v. 172; (ed. Leconte, ii. 281.) 



Not uncommon throughout the Middle, Southern and Western States. 

 Easily recognized by its very small size, elongate form, by the two strife of 

 the elytra next the margin being deep, while the others are merely rows of 

 punctures, becoming obsolete behind. The color is usually nearly black, 

 with the feet yellow. 



THECA Muls. & Rey. 



Body oval, moderately elongated, narrowed in front, convex ; head convex 

 beneath, not at all excavated for reception of the antennae ; when deflexed, 

 received in a very deep excavation of the under surface of the prothorax, 

 which is nearly closed behind; antennae 1 1-jointed, rather short, received 

 under the head, in the prothoracic excavation. First joint large auriculate, 

 second slender, oblong, 3 6 small, seventh acutely prolonged inwards, 

 eighth also prolonged inwards, short, but nearly as wide as the ninth, 

 the 9 10 large, dilated, triangular, eleventh somewhat longer, oval ; the 

 last three united, longer than the preceding joints; palpi with the last 

 joint securiform. Prosternum not visible, except on dissection, short, de- 

 clivous ; front coxae nearly contiguous, horizontal ; mesosternum compressed 

 and elevated in the form of a spear head, between and in front of the middle 

 and anterior coxae, extending to the prothoracic cavity; middle coxae not 

 widely separated, legs received in deep excavations of the meso- and meta- 

 thorax. Metasternum rather short, deeply channelled, declivous in front and 

 excavated for reception of middle legs, narrowly truncate at the middle. 

 First ventral segment excavated for reception of hind legs. Legs rather 

 feeble, tibiae slightly compressed, tarsi short, the first joint somewhat elon- 

 gated. Elytra with all the striae deeply impressed, epipleurae foveate at the 

 middle for reception of hind knees. 



The position of this genus is somewhat doubtful. The antennae do not lie 

 in repose between the coxae, that space being occupied by the elevated me- 

 sosternum. The head, however, is not excavated beneath for the inception 

 of the antennae, and the head is also prevented from reaching the metaster- 

 num by the interposition of this piece. The form of the body suggests rather 

 an affinity with A n ob i u m than with Dorcatoma, orXyletinus, and I, 

 therefore, regard it as an aberrant member of the present group, in which we 

 have had already (Petalium) an instance of anomalous and excessive de- 

 velopment of the metasternum, simulating the form observed in the genera 

 allied to Dorcatoma. 



1. Th. profunda, elongato-ovalis, convexa, antice attenuata, nigro picea, 

 griseo-pubescens, capite punctulato, thorace lateribus obliquis rectis, rude 

 haud dense punctato, elytris striis aequaliter profundis, in fundo punctatis, 

 interstitiis planis vix punctulatis ; abdomine punctulato, metasterno rude 

 punctato. Long. -085 -10. 



One specimen from Pennsylvania, and another from Lake Superior. 



EUPACTUS Lee. 



Body elongate, oval, very convex, smooth, shining, glabrous, head with two 

 deep frontal lines before the eyes, and a deep transverse suture separating a 

 smail flat clypeus. Eyes large, moderately convex, entire, tolerably finely 

 granulated. Antennae 1 1-jointed ; first joint large, curved ; second joint as 

 wide as, but much shorter, than the first, and suddenly curved inwards ; third 

 joint much narrower, triangular, 4 8 as wide as the third, short, transverse ; 

 ninth large, compressed, triangular, but not prolonged inwards, about twice 

 as long as its width, and equal in length to the joints 2 8 united ; tenth tri- 

 angular, as wide as the ninth, truncate at tip, closely applied to the eleventh, 

 which is obtusely rounded at the extremity; the tenth and eleventh together 



1865.1 



