1853.] 329 



Middle States, abundant. Differs from M. violaceus in the thorax being 

 shorter, less shining, and more densely punctured. The antennae are shorter 

 and stouter than in the two preceding species. The rugae of the elytra 

 are broad, but not deep; the rugce of the abdomen are fine and irregular. 

 M. nigra Kirbij seems to be merely a faded specimen ; at least the very short 

 description points out no distinctive character. The color in my series varies 

 from greenish black to blackish purple. 



5. M. p erp le X u s, nigro-virescens, opacus, capite thoraceque minus dense 

 punctatis, hoc vix angustiore, latitudine non breviore, lateribus subsinuatis basi 

 subemarginato, elytris subtiliter intricato-rugosis af)ice obtusioribus. Long ?. 



One male specimen, Pennsylvania. This species is so similar in characters 

 to the preceding, that I hesitate to consider it distinct. On close comparison, 

 however, the differences are absolutely irreconcileable. The antennas are longer 

 and more slender, so that the four last joints are equal in length to the four that 

 precede them. The punctures of the head and thorax are less dense and more 

 equally distributed ; the thorax, instead of being ovoid, is rather bell shaped, 

 from the concavity of the sides ; it is somewhat narrowed behind, and the base 

 is scarcely emarginate. The elytra are broader and much more obtuse at the 

 apex; the basal impression is altogether transverse, and not at all longitudinal. 

 The color is greenish black, becoming distinctly green on the elytra. 



b. Antennae sexus utriusque conformes. 



6. M. parvus, niger, oparus, capite thoraceque confertim punctatis, hoc vix 

 angustiore, transverse, subtiliter canaliculate, basi truncato, elytris longioribus, 

 granulis distinctis minus elevatis asperatis. Long. '33 43. 



Haldeman. Stansbury's Report of Exploration of Salt Lake, 377. 



Sta Fe ; collected by Mr. Fern, and given me by Haldeman. The antennae 

 are as long as the head and thorax, the third joint equal to the two next; the 

 dorsal surface of the abdomen is indistinctly rugous. 



Species dubia. 



M. americanus. Leach, Lin. Tr., 1 1, 25] , pi. 18, figs. ^^ and G. 



" Caput violascens, punctis miuutis impressum. Thorax violascens, punctis 

 minutis vage impressus, postice emarginatus et mar^inatus. Elytra nigra, sub- 

 nitentia, minime rugulosa. Abdomen nigrum subnitens, rugulosum, coriaceiim. 

 Pedes nijiri, pilis brevissimis obtecti. Ungues interni ferruginei, externi nigri." 



The antennae in the figure are represented slender, as in M. angusticollis ISay, 

 and 31. moerens hec. In color it resembles the latter, but no mention is made 

 of the elytral punctures, which form a very conspicuous character of that spe- 

 cies. From the small size of the punctures of the head and thorax it would 

 appear probable that Leach had M. angusticollis Say in view, but as the re- 

 markably small size of the thorax is not alluded to, I do not feel justified in 

 sacrificing Say's good description to Leach's very poor one, until it shall be ren- 

 dered necessary by the examination of Leach's typical specimens, if they should 

 still exist. 



Cysteodemus Lee. 



Although possessing a species of this curious genus, Brandt and Erichson 

 seem to have been misled b)'^ its external resemblance to Meloe, and have there- 

 fore failed to recognise its generic value. There is a radical difference in the 

 elytra, which, instead of being coriaceous and imbricate, are here of a strong 

 and firm structure, with the suture regular. In certain species the elytra are 

 very large, so as to extend far beyond the abdomen; they are then connate at the 

 suture; in other species (the first division) the elytra are small, although con- 

 vex and inflated ; they are then entirely separated, and commence diverging 

 from the very base, on account of the large size of the abdomen. The antennae 

 are short and filiform, 11-jointed, the 2d joint short, the 3d scarcely longer than 

 the 4th. The palpi are much shorter than in Meloe. The legs are long and 

 slender, the spurs are small, slender and acute; the claws of the tarsi are 

 toothed near the base. 



