1853.] 289 



each side. The elytra are destitute of a marginal stria; the epipleurae have a 

 single entire lateral stria, and occasionally a rudiment of a second at the base. 

 The pygidium is perpendicular, not inflexed, as in Abra3us. The anterior tibice 

 are more or less dilated, but always gradually so. The middle and posterior 

 tibias are slender. The posterior tarsi are only four-jointed, the portion usually 

 composing the basal joint being firmly anchylosed to the second joint. 



To this genus will also belong Hister minutus Fubr., and Hister nigricornis 

 E/it. Heft., both placed in Abraeus by Erichson. 



1. A. di s c us, rotundatus, minus convexus, nigro-piceus, thorace subtilis- 

 sime, elytris subliliter sat dense punctatis, illo basi marginato, pygidio laevi. 

 Long. '04. 



Two specimens found in upper Georgia, under bark. Body round, less convex 

 than usual, piceous-black, shining. Head very obsoletely punctulate. Thorax 

 extremely finely punctulate, with a distinct transverse line at the middle of the 

 base. Elytra finely and tolerably densely punctured, very slightly aciculate ; 

 epipleurae broad, finely punctulate, lateral stria deep. Pygidium impunctured ; 

 under surface finely punctured; legs rufous, anterior tibiae gradually very 

 slightly dilated. 



2. A. f i m e t a r i u s, rotundatus, convexus, piceus vel niger, thorace punctu- 

 lato, basi medio marginato, elytris minus subtiliter punctatis postice subtiliter 

 aciculatis, pygidio impunctato, alutaceo. Long. -04. 



Abrceiis fimetarlus Lee, Bost. Journ. Nat. Hist. 5, 54. 



A pretty large species, found in the Southern and Middle States, in dung and 

 under stones. Head very finely punctulate. Thorax not densely, very finely 

 punctured, with a transverse marginal line at the middle of the base. Elytra 

 not densely, somewhat coarsely punctured, punctures becoming small poste- 

 riorly and intermixed with dense fine scratches ; towards the base there are 

 usually one or two oblique abbreviated striae visible, which, however, are some- 

 times entirely obsolete ; epipleurae inferiorly smooth, lateral stria deep. Pygi- 

 dium impunctured, slightly chagrined. Under surface sparsely punctured; 

 anterior tibiae scarcely dilated. 



A specimen found by Dr. Schaum at New Orleans, has the basal elytral strice 

 very deep, and between them about the middle, is a shorter, also oblique stria. 

 I can find no other difference between it and the others. 



From the difiiculty of perceiving the characters of such minute species, the 

 descriptions of my father are by no means as accurate in this genus as in the 

 others contained in his Monograph. Under this species he says that the thorax 

 is not margined posteriori)^ but has a row of larger punctures. Novv^ in all the 

 species which have the posterior line discernible, it is formed by the limit of a 

 series of basal punctures or aciculations, and is not an engraved distinctly de- 

 fined line. 



3. A. strigosus, rotundatus, convexus, vix ovalis, piceus, thorace densius 

 punctulato, basi medio marginato, elytris confertlm punctatis postice subtiliter 

 dense aciculatis, pygidio impunctato. Long. -03. 



Two specimens from Georgia. This species resembles very much A. fime- 

 tarius, but is smaller, and the punctures of the thorax are denser and more 

 distinct; the punctures of the elytra are smaller. Body rounded, convex, 

 scarcely oval, shining piceous. Thorax densely, distinctly punctulate, strongly 

 margined at the middle of the base. Elytra moderately punctured, punctures 

 becoming small posteriorly, where they are mingled with fine dense scratches ; 

 epipleurae almost smooth, lateral stria deep. Pygidium impunctured, obsoletely 

 chagrined. Postpectus and abdomen sparsely punctured, anterior tibiae very 

 slightly dilated. 



4. A. conformis, rotundatus, convexus, vix ovalis, piceus vel rufo- 

 piceus, thorace subtiliter punctulato, basi medio marginato, elytris punctatis 

 postice subrugosis, lateribus laevibus stria laterali profunda, pygidio impunctato. 

 Long. -023. 



Georgia, under bark. Similar in form to A. fimetarius, but only half as 



