THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 193 



A NEW COSSONUS. 



BY ANNIE TRUMBULL SLOSSON. 



In the Canadian Entomologist (Vol. XXVII., p. 322), the late 

 Dr. John Hamilton, in an interesting article on the Coleoptera of Lake 

 Worth, Florida, referred to a new species of Cossonus found there. He 

 speaks of taking, under the bark of a dead limb of the Rubber tree 

 ( Ficus aurea), five examples of a new Cossonus, with basal half of the 

 elytra, metasternum and abdomen rufous. He gives no other description 

 nor does he name the beetle. 



In March of the present year, at Miami, on Biscayne Bay, Florida, I 

 found several specimens of what is evidently the same species referred to 

 by Dr. Hamilton. They were under the bark of a fallen and dead 

 Rubber tree. It seems proper and befitting that Dr. Hamilton's name 

 should be associated with this bettle, and I have ventured to describe it 

 below under the specific name of Hamiltoni. I trust it will not be 

 considered out of place here for me to speak of my affection, respect and 

 admiration for the good Doctor. We never met face to face, but we 

 corresponded for several years, and he gave me great assistance in my 

 studies among insects. His letters were marked by unfailing courtesy 

 and kindliness, gratitude for even the smallest favour from me, apprecia- 

 tion of the most unimportant discovery I might make. As do many 

 others, I remember him and miss him continually. 



Cossonus Hamiltoni, n, sp. — -Black, shining, with basal half of elytra, 

 the metasternum and abdomen rufous ; antennae and legs dark red. 

 Rostrum stout, finely and closely punctulate, very abruptly and almost 

 transversely-quadrangularly dilated at apex, the dilated portion barely as 

 long as the basal portion. 



Thorax oblong, with a triangular depression extending from base to 

 near apex and having a feebly indicated and sometimes slightly elevated 

 median line. The punctures in this depression are coarse and irregular, 

 on sides of thorax smaller and more regular. Elytra slightly wider than 

 base of thorax, surface rather deeply striate at base ; striae with close, 

 deep punctures, but not impressed at apical portion. Prosternum very 

 coarsely and somewhat densely punctate ; mesosternum more sparsely 

 punctured ; as are also the metasternum and first two abdominal seg- 

 ments. 



Length — exclusive of rostrum — 2.9-4 mm. 



Locality : Miami, Biscayne Bay, Fla. 



