1853.] ' 279 



Herbst, Kafer, 5, 180; Oliv. Ins. 11, tab. 1, fig. 5j Linn. Syst. Nat. (ed. Gmel.) 

 4, 1621 ; ibid. (ed. Turton) 2, 100. 



S. 7ioveborace)isis Forster, Cent. Ins. 17. 



Oiceoptoma (Tha?iatophil//s) margitiatuni Kirby, Fauna Bor. Am. 100. 



Southern and Middle States; according to Kirby found at lat. 54^. Kirby 

 observes that in this case, at least, it would be very inexpedient to restore the 

 older name, and this view I trust every entomologist will adopt. 



5. S. i n ae q u a 1 i s Fabr. Ent. Syst. 1, 251 : Syst. El. 1, 340 ; Olivier, 11, tab. 

 2, fix. 20 ; Herbst, Kafer, .5, 185, tab. 41, fig. 2; Linn. Syst. Nat. (ed. Gmel.) 

 4, 1620; ibid. (ed. Turton,) 2, 100. 



Oiceoptoma {Thanatophilus) incBqiiah Kirby, Fauna Bor. Am. 102. 

 Common through all the Atlantic district. 



B. Antennas articulo ultimo solo longiore, tribus prcecedentibus aequalibus ; 

 articulo 2do 3io longiore. 



a. Antennae breves, crassiusculas. 



6. S. peltata Lee. 



SearabcBus peltatus Catesby, Carol. 3, tab. 10, fig. 7, (1731.) 

 Silpha Americana Linn. Syst. Nat. (ed. 12) ; 2, 570; (ed. Gmel.) 4, 1619. 

 (ed. Turton) 2, 99 ; Fabr. Ent. Syst. 1, 249 ; Syst. El. 1, 337; Olivier, 

 11, tab. 1, fig. 9 ; Herbst, Kafer, 5, 176. 

 Blatta Americana Catesby, Linn, et auct. al. 



Oiceoptoma (^Necrophila) Americanum Kirby, Fauna Bjr. Am. 102. 

 O. {N.) terminatum Kirby, ibid. 103. 

 O. {N.) affiiie Kirby, ibid. 103. 

 O. (iV.) Canadense Kirby, ibid. 104. 

 Northern, Middle and Southern States; the differences between Kirby's species 

 appear to be partly individual and partly sexual ; specimens presenting the cha- 

 racters of all his species occur together. 



There is, however, a particular form which appears to be confined to the 

 Southern States, which perhaps is sufficiently distinct to rank as a species ; from 

 the proportions of Catesby's figure, it is probably his typical insect; in which 

 case the name Americaiia may be retained for the ordinary form, by those who 

 wish to consider them as distinct. 



The variety in question is larger and much broader than those found at the 

 North ; the sides of the thorax are less rounded, and the surface more densely 

 and coarsely punctured. The suture of the female is armed with a more distinct 

 spine ; the horizontal portion of the epipleurae is broader and not so much 

 deflexed. 



In regard to the change of name proposed above, I will merely observe that 

 Catesby appears to have been the first describer of this species, and that his 

 specific name has fallen into disuse, on account of the error committed by Lin- 

 naeus in quoting Catesby's work; as this error has remained uncorrected so long, 

 we are at liberty to infer that subsequent authors have merely quoted Linnasus, 

 without verifying his assertion. 



Although by the change here proposed, a well known name is sacrificed to one 

 completely unknown, it seems to me that there could be no good reason for re- 

 fusing to replace the earlier name, which has been lost, not by forgetfulness nor 

 by ignorance, but simply by a perpetuated misquotation. 



b. Antennas elongatae, tenues, sensim paulo incrassatae. 



7. S. ram OS a Say, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. 3, 193. 



5^. cervaria Mannerheim, Bull. Mosc. 1843, 252. 



Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri Territory, New Mexico, Oregon and Cali- 

 fornia. In this widely distributed species, I have been able to distinguish three 

 forms, which though differing by more decided characters than are usually to be 

 found in varieties, can scarcely be considered in the light of ordinary species. 



. The color is dull black; the thorax is very much narrowed in front, and 

 more strongly rounded on the sides than in the others ; the margin of the elytra 

 is broader and less reflexed ; in the male, the elytra are broadly rounded poste- 



43 



