NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 83 



3. Thorax broad, sub transverse sides much rounded, posterior angles 

 small, obtuse. Species 14 20. 



4. Thorax broad, sides strongly rounded posterior aDgles scarcely 

 evident. Species 21. 



A. 



1. T. mauritanica, nigro picea, obscura, modice depressa, capite 

 thoraceque parce grosse punctatis, hoc linea dorsali lasvi, lateribus, sinuatis, 

 antice latiore, postice angustato, margine vix reflexo, basi rotundato, angulis 

 posticis parvis acutis, elytris oblongis, basi late emarginatis, siriis punctatis 

 interstitiis paulo convexis, rugulosis, biseriatim subtiliter punctulatis, ab- 

 domine prosternoque parce punctatis, gula postice subtiliter punctulata, antice 

 grosse punctata, antennis pedibusque rufis. Long. "38. 



T. mauritanica, Linn. (Tenebrio,) Mann. Bull. Mosc. 1843, 302. 



T. caraboides, Fab. 1, 151. 



This species has been carried all over the world in articles of commerce ; 

 specimens have been received from Europe, Cuba, Sierra Leone, Texas and 

 Pennsylvania. With the succeeding species, the mauritanica forms a 

 natural section, characterized by having the joints of the antennae gradually in- 

 creasing in breadth, while, in the next group, the last three joints are suddenly 

 larger, forming a loose club. These two forms appear to be characteristic, the 

 former of the species of the eastern hemisphere, the latter of those of North and 

 South America. 



2. T. n i t i d a, nigro-picea nitida, modice depressa, subtus subtiliter punctu- 

 lata capite thoraceque parce subtiliter punctulatis, hoc antice latiore, postice an- 

 gustato, lateribus sinuatis, margine reflexo, angulis posticis, acutis reflexis, basi 

 rotundato, elytris oblongis, basi vix emarginatis huineris rectis, striis punctatis 

 interstitiis planis parce rugulosis biseriatim subtiliter punctulatis, abdomine 

 prosternoque parce subtiliter punctulatis, gula antice parce grosse punctata, 

 postice lajve, antennis pedibusque piceo-rufis. Long, "40. 



This species like the mauritanica has been imported. Numerous speci- 

 mens were obtained from a vessel from Sierra Leone, in the spring of 1861, 

 since then others have been found in the neighborhood of Philadelphia. In its 

 general form it resembles closely the mauritanica, from which it may 

 be readily distinguished by its more glossy appearance, and less deeply and 

 closely punctured head and thorax. The posterior angles of the thorax are 

 somewhat larger, more acute, and slightly reflexed. The under surface of the 

 body is also more finely and less densely punctured. 



B 1. 



3. T. calif or nica, nigro-picea, subnitida, depressa, capite thoraceque 

 parce grosse punctatis, hoc antice latiore, postice angustato lateribus sinuatis 

 ante angulos emarginatis, his acutis reflexis, margine vix reflexo, basi rotun- 

 dato, medio truncato, elytris oblongis, basi late emarginatis versus humeros 

 impressis, his rectis, striis valde punctatis interstitiis planis, parce rugulosis, bi- 

 seriatim subtiliter punctulatis, antennis pedibusque rufis, abdomine prosterno- 

 que parce subtiliter punctulatis, gula antice vix punctulata, postice subplicata. 

 Long. -40. 



California, one specimen ; Dr. Le Conte. This is the largest California species 

 yet known. The thorax is much broader anteriorly than long, the breadth 

 posteriorly is about equal to its length. The sides are sinuate, anterior to the 

 angles deeply- emarginate. This character is possessed in a greater or less de- 

 gree by all of the California species. In all of this group the posterior angles 

 are well developed, acute and slightly reflexed. 



4. T. crassicornis, rufa subnitida, depressa, subtus parce punctata, ca- 

 pite thoraceque parce grosse punctatis hoc medio laeviore, antice latiore postice 

 angustato, lateribus haud rotundatis, ante angulos emarginatis, his acutis reflexis 



1862.] 



