tHE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 171 



ZoNiTis, Fabr. 



Z. zonitoides, Duges.— At Alpine, Texas, I took a few specimens of 

 an insect which I refer to this species, " a widely distributed form in the 

 highlands of Mexico and Guatemala " (Champion, Biologia Centrali- 

 Americana). It resembles Z. sparsa, Lee, but is at once known by the 

 black head, shorter maxillary processes and more densely punctured elytra- 

 It belongs to the genus Nemognatha as defined by LeConte and Horn. 

 Major Casey has suppressed Nemognatha (lUiger, 1807), I think properly 

 since the discovery of new Mexican forms has shown the invalidity of the 

 only character (the length of the maxillary processes) upon which it has 

 hitherto been separable from Zonitis. That author has also united 

 Gnathium with Zonitis, the slight thickening of the tips of the antennae 

 scarcely warranting the continuation of the former name as a generic term. 

 The course outlined above will, however, necessitate some changes in 

 specific nomenclature ; thus Z. iinmacuiata, Say, becomes preoccupied by 

 Z. immacuiata, 111., and I propose to designate the former species by the 

 name Z. Sayi, in memory of its pioneer describes 



Z. Californica, n. sp. — Elongate, convex, shining, with sparse, bristly 

 pubescence. Brownish, head piceous, elytra obscure, brownish yellow. 

 Head with coarse, deep punctures, covering the entire surface, except a 

 small callus between the eyes, more crowded and confluent just above the 

 antennal insertions, antennae thickened externally, third joint not quite 

 twice the length of the second, evidently longer than the fourth, maxillary 

 processes about half as long as the body. Prothorax broader than long, 

 wider in front of the middle, sides narrowing slightly to the base and more 

 rapidly and arcuately to the apex, basal margin nearly straight, the bead 

 high and well marked ; disk uneven, with coarse, deep, scattered punctures, 

 irregularly disposed. Elytra at base much wider than the prothorax, finely 

 rugulose but shining, punctures of moderate size, confused at base, but 

 sparser, and forming rather regular rows on the disk. Body beneath 

 shining, legs punctured, spurs of the hind tibiae unequal, tapering to tip, 

 the inner one much more slender. Length, about 5 mm., .20 inch. 



I collected this species in great* numbers in the mountains near 

 Tehachapi, California, several years ago, and have distributed it as new to 

 many museums. It is not closely allied to any of our native species of 

 Gnathium (to which division it belongs by the antennal structure), the 

 coarsely and closely punctured head serving by itself as a good differential 

 character, 



