290 [February, 



large, and a little less globose ; varies in color from piceous to brownish-red. 

 Thorax very finely punctured ; middle of the base distinctly margined. Elytra 

 more finely not densely punctured, punctures posteriorly smaller and mixed with 

 scratches; the sides and epipleurae are smooth, the lateral stria deep. Pygidium 

 impunctured; postpectus sparsely distinctly punctured; anterior tibiae slightly 

 dilated. 



5. A. simplex, oblongo-ovalis, convexus, rufus vel rufo-piceus, thorace 

 subtiliter punctulato, basi medio marginato, elytris subtilius panctatis et postice 

 rugosis, lateribus laevibus, stria laterali subtili, pygidio impunctato. Long. -025. 



AbrcBus simplex Lee, Bost. Journ. Nat. Hist. 5, 54, tab. 10, fig. 11. 



Abundant in Georgia, under bark. This species is more oval than A. con-, 

 formis, which it resemlples very closely, so that the upper surface presents 

 hardly any difference ; the punctures of the elytra are, however, finer, and the 

 posterior rugae more numerous. The lateral stria is very fine. The postpectus 

 is smooth ; with a very powerful lens, and in a particular light, may be seen a 

 i^vj very minute indistinct punctures. Anterior tibiae scarcely dilated. 



6. A. b a s al is, oblongo-ovalis, modice convexus, piceus, parcius subtiliter 

 punctatus, thorace basi medio marginato, elytris lateribus laevibus, stria laterali 

 subtili, pygidio punctulato. Long. '025. 



AhrcB/ts bnsalis Lee, Annals of Lyceum of .New York, 5, 170. 



Gila and Colorado Rivers, California, under the bark of Cottonwood. This 

 species is very similar in form to A. simplex, but is a little less convex. The 

 more distinct punctuation of the thorax and the finely punctulate pygidium 

 will at once distinguish it. The punctures of the elytra are less mixed with 

 rugae posteriorly; the sides and epipleurae are smooth; the lateral stria is fine, 

 and the postpectus is sparsely punctured ; the anterior tibiae are scarcely 

 dilated. 



From A. analis it differs by the less dense and more distinct punctuation, as 

 well as by the less deep lateral stria. 



(A. analis, piceus, modice convexus, leviter ovalis, thorace punctulato, 

 basi medio marginato, elytris punctatis et postice subrugosis, lateribus laevibus, 

 stria laterali profunda, pygidio subtiliter punctulato. Long. '027. 



One specimen from Cuba, kindly sent by Don Felipe Poey. The distinctive 

 characters are already pointed out under the preceding species.) 



7. A. p olitu s, rufo-piceus, subovalis, modice convexus, laevissimus, stria 

 laterali subtili. Long. -025. 



Middle, Southern and Western States, abundant under stones. This species 

 has entirely the form of A. simplex, but is destitute of punctures both above 

 and beneath. The lateral stria is fine but distinct, the anterior tibiae are 

 scarcely dilated. I have distributed this insect under the name A. Iccvigatv.s ; 

 on account of Hister laevigatus Payk. I have thought it better to change this 

 name. Paykull's species is not an Abraeus, as conjectured by my father, but is 

 evidently a species of Caerosternus Lee, and only differs from the Cuban 

 C. laevissimus Lee. (Proceed. Acad. 6, 40,) in having the pectus slightly punc- 

 tured. It has not been seen since Paykull's time, and is probably a West Indian 

 species. Further comparison is necessary to determine whether Caerosternus 

 should not be reunited to Tribalus ; the rounded margin of the prosternum 

 might be called a short broad lobe, while the lateral extension, although not 

 lobed in its outline, might be but a very slight variation of the form described 

 by Erichson. 



8. A. maritimus, oblongus fere depressus, niger, thorace subtilius, ely- 

 tris sat dense punctatis, pygidio laevi. Long. '045. 



Ahrcciis maritimits Le Conte, Ann. Lye. of New York, 5,170. 



San Diego, California, under decomposing kelp on the shores of the ocean. 

 This species, in form and size, equals our common Plegaderus transversus, but 

 has all the characters of the present genus. The thorax is finely punctured, the 

 sides are scarcely rounded ; the elytra are distinctly punctured, the punctures 



