1852.] 141 



their margin, scarcely extending to the parapleurae. Feet rufous. Anus of the 

 male broadly emarginate. 



27. S. punctum, rotundato-ovalis convexus niger, parce pubescens, 

 thorace lateribus confertim punctatis, elytris subtiliter parce punctatis, pedibus 

 testaceis, femoribus posterioribus piceis. Long. -05. 



Two specimens, North shore of Lake Superior. On account of its size and 

 form it resembles the preceding, but the coarsely punctured thorax distinguishes 

 it. Rounded oval, convex, shining black, covered with line and sparse pubes- 

 cence. Head obsoletely punctulate, antennae yellow. Thorax finely and 

 sparsely punctured at the middle, coarsely and densely at the sides, base 

 margined, obtuse in the middle, subsinuate each side. Elytra finely and 

 sparsely punctured. Body beneath coarsely punctured, abdominal plates smooth, 

 punctured at base, considerably shorter than the segment, not extending late- 

 rally to the parapleurae. Feet testaceous-yellow, four posterior thighs piceous. 



The following species I have not seen : 

 S. ochroderus Muls. var. xanthaspis, Muls. 952. 

 S. myrmidon Muls. 954. 

 S. icteratus Muls. 969. 

 S. Brullei Muls. 954. 

 S. fastigiatus Muls. 986. 

 S. punctatus Mels. Pr. Ac. Nat. Sci. 3, 180. 



S. collaris Mels. ibid., is probably one of the species in B 2 d, but 

 the description is not sufficiently definite to permit its determination. 



Div. 2. Corylophi, 



This division contains very small species, most of which are remarkable for 

 having the thorax produced in front above the head, as in Cassida, or Cossy- 

 phus. They differ in their habits from the genuine Coccinellae, most of them 

 being found in putrid vegetable matter. At times they are found flying about 

 at twilight in great numbers. 



Redtenbacher has founded upon these insects his family Clypeastres, con- 

 sidering the narrowness of the second tarsal joint and the hood-like form of the 

 thorax as sufficiently important to separate them. The mandibles are usually 

 crenate internally, but ace aiding to Erichson there is a gradual transition from 

 that form to the simple mandibles of many Coccinellae. The hood-like form of 

 the thorax can also be of but little importance, since in the genus Orthoperus, 

 which evidently belongs with Corylophus, this anterior prolongation is wanting. 

 We have thus left only two characters, the narrow tarsi, and the ciliated wings, 

 which however useful for systematic division, seem to be rather slight charac- 

 ters for the establishment of a natural family. In the genus Rypobius the tarsi 

 are also considerably dilatod. For these reasons I have followed Erichson in 

 uniting these genera with the Coccinellidae, establishing however a special 

 group under that family for their reception. Clambus must be absolutely 

 excluded from the Coccinellidae, since the peculiar laminated structure of its 

 posterior coxa is entirelv without analogy in this tribe, and is found only in the 

 singular genus Sphaerius, placed by Erichson among the Trichopterygia. 



I have but one new generus to add to this group. Those found in the United 

 States are thus related . 



1. Caput liberum. 

 Antennae 9-articulatae, tarsi dilatati, . . . Rypobius Lee. 



Antennae 9-articulatae, tarsi angusti, .... Orthoperus Steph. 



1. Caput obtectum, tarsi angusti. 

 Antennae 9-articulatae, corpus rotundatum, glabrum, . Corylophus Leach. 

 Antennae 10-articulatae, elytra truncata, . . . . Sericoderus Steph. 

 Antennae ll-articulatae, corpus ellipticum, pubescens, . Sacium Lee. 



22 



