NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 241 



cens, vix subtilissime punctulatus, elytris parce subtiliter punctulatis, striis ex- 

 ternis duabus subtilibus, pone medium antice abbreviatis, antennis testaceis. 

 Long. -10. 



One specimen collected at Cape San Lucas, Lower California, by Mr. John 

 Xantus, and given me by Mr. Ulke. This species has also a regularly oval 

 form, equally rounded at eacb end, but is broader than H. n i g r i t u 1 u s, with 

 the striae of the elytra finer and shorter, extending scarcely more than one- 

 third of their length. 



7. H. n igr i t u lu s, elongato-ovalis, niger nitidus, subtiliter griseo-pubes- 

 cens, minus dense subtiliter punctulatus, elytris striis duabus externis profun- 

 dis pone medium antice abbreviatis, antennis tarsisque testaceis. Long. -09. 



One specimen, Pennsylvania. Of the same form and size as H. v e n t r a 1 i s, 

 but distinguished by. the body being entirely black, with the upper surface less 

 finely and not densely punctulate. 



PROTHECA Lee. 



The two species constituting this genus are small, short, cylindrical insects, 

 having more the appearance of minute Hylesinus than of any genera of 

 this group. The head is deeply excavated beneath, with a medial gular pro- 

 minence, as in Lasioderma serricorne, near which the antennae are curved 

 in a state of repose. The eyes are entire, slightly convex, and moderately 

 finely granulated. Palpi with the last joint triangular, broadly truncate. An- 

 tennae with the first joint long and thick, slightly curved, but scarcely auricu- 

 late ; second joint rounded, thicker than the following; 3 8 small, triangular, 

 the third, fifth and seventh being broader thau the others ; ninth and tenth 

 subtriangular, one-half longer than wide ; eleventh longer, oval, the three to- 

 gether as long as the preceding joints united. Prothorax convex, transverse, 

 gradually narrowed in front, with the sides nearly straight, hind angles rounded, 

 front angles very much deflexed ; prosternum very short, acute behind ; front 

 coxae almost contiguous, conical, depressed ; mesosternum perpendicular, 

 slightly concave in the middle; metasternum deeply channelled, declivous in 

 front each side, somewhat prominent and deeply foveate between the middle 

 coxaj, declivous portion scarcely excavated for reception of middle feet, but 

 defined posteriorly by a transverse line, extending to the medial furrow. First 

 ventral segment excavated for reception of hind feet, and almost entirely con- 

 cealed by them. Feet slender, tibiae not compressed, tarsi moderate. First 

 joint slightly elongated ; front tarsi visible in repose, folded over the tip of the 

 mandibles, and along the anterior margin of the metasternum. Epipleurse ex- 

 cavated beneath the humeri for the reception of the middle knees, sinuate at 

 the margin, and foveate for the reception of the hind knees (as in Pe ta li u m 

 and T h e c a) ; strife composed of punctures, scarcely impressed, even at the 

 sides. 



Our two species may be distinguished as follows: 



Striae of elytra not obsolete behind p u b e r u la. 



Striae of elytra obliterated behind h isp i d a. 



1. P. p u b e r u 1 a, ovalis, subcylindrica, picea, pubescens, thorace subtiliter 

 dense punctulato, elytris nitidis, seriebus punctorum postice haud obliteratis, 

 interstitiis rugosis, antennis Mavis. Long. -08. 



Pennsylvania, three specimens ; Georgia, one specimen. The pubescence of 

 the elytra is arranged in lines, the hairs are not rigid, and the rugosities of the 

 intervals are quite obvious ; the striae are composed of punctures, which are 

 large at the base, and become small towards the tip. 



2. P. h i s p i d a, ovalis, nigro-picea, opaca, pube rigida cinerea induta, tho- 

 race punctulato, elytris seriebus punctorum subtilibus pone medium oblitera- 

 tis, interstitiis alutaceis, parce punctulatis, antennis flavis. Long. -08. 



1865.] 



