IS 53.] 229 



The Atopidne seem by this ;eniis and Anchytarsus to show a slight affinity 

 towards the Parnidce, through the anomalous genus Eurypalpus Lee. (Proc. 

 Acad. Nat. Sc. 6, 41.) 



S. sc u te 11 a r is, elongato-oblongus, piceus, fusco pruinosus, thorace ptmc- 

 tato, antrorsum angustato, basi bisinuato, angulis posticis acutis, elytris scabro- 

 punctatis, scutello albo pubescente. Long. '^5 87. 



One pair, Sacramento, California, from Mr. Rathvon. Body elongate, nar- 

 rowed at each end, sides parallel at the middle, piceous, covered with very short 

 depressed, dirt colored pubescence. Antennae black, strongly serrate in the 

 male, slightly serrate in the female. Thorax nearly three times as wide as the 

 head, nearly twice as wide as long, strongly narrowed in front, sides at the 

 middle almost angulated, then slightly concave to the posterior angles, which 

 are acute ; base bisinuat? ; surface fint'ly punctured, broadly concave along the 

 margin behind the middle, and broadly transversely impressed at the base. 

 Scutellum round, covered with dense white hair. Elytra scabrous with shallow, 

 punctures, spaces between the punctures finely punctulate ; the elevated lines, 

 which may be traced in allied genera are slightly visible. Body beneath more 

 densely pruinose Vv^ith short cinereous hair. 



The other species of this family known to inhabit the United States are : 



1. Anchytarsus bicolor. Atopa hicolor I Mels. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. 2, 

 221. Anchytvrstux ater Guerin Icon. Anim. Artie, No. 15, (Jan. 1849.) Penn- 

 sylvania, S. S. Haldeman. 



2. Odontonyx or n a t a Guerin, loc. cit. No. 14. Atopa oniata ! Mels. Pr. 

 Acad. Nat. Sc. 2, 220. Pennsylvania, not rare. 



3. Dascillus melanophthalmus Guerin, loc. cit. No. 13, p. 6. I 

 have not seen this species, but learn from my father that it occurs in Georgia. 

 Atopa fusca M^-ls. (Proc. Acad. 2, 221) is, as Guerin has already observed, a 

 Ptilodactyla, and therefore cannot be placed in this family. 



The singuhr genus Zenoa Say (Bost. Journ. Nat. Hist. 1, 153,) differs from 

 the genera above cited, by its immarginate thorax, prominent mandibles, sub- 

 pectinate antennae, and elongate densely hairy paranychia ; these characters 

 approximate it to Saiidalus (female) ; from the Rhipiceridae, however, it differs 

 in having the anterior coxee more deeply imbedded between the pro- and meso- 

 sternum, and also in the absence of lobes on the under surface of the tarsi ; in the 

 Atopidae we know already that the latter is a variable character, and there 

 appears to me no good reason why the two families, Atopidae and Rhipiciderae 

 should not be merged together. The synonymy of the only species of Zenoa 

 known to me is : 



Z. p i c e a Lee. Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. New Ser. 1, S9. Melasis picea Beau- 

 vois, Ins. 7, tab. 7, fig. 1. Sandaltis {Zenoa) picea Say, Bost. Journ. Nat. 

 Hist. 1, 152. Zevoa vulnerata Lee. loc. cit. 



Middle and Western States : the last synonym belongs to a variety with the 

 thorax partly red. 



Cerophytum is usually placed in the vicinity of these genera, and has been 

 bandied about between Eucnemides, Rhipiceridag and Cebrionidae ; it must, 

 however, belong to the latter family. The great development of the trochanters 

 entirely separates the femora from the coxae ; the same structure is to be found 

 in Cebrio bicolor, although the trochanters are not so long ; the indistinct 

 labrum and globular anterior coxae also place it with Cebrio, while the whole 

 form of the head, as well as the general appearance, would separate it froin the 

 Eucnemides, which, as I have already observed,* should be considered as a 

 group of Elateridag. The small mandibles and lobed tarsi are certainly very 

 different from those of Cebrio, but we know that the latter character is merely 

 of generic value in both Elateridae and Atopidag. The description of Haldeman 

 is incorrect as regards the posterior feet, in which the coxa, are said to be very 



Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences, 6, 45. 



