32 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



nent, and the claws are either cleft or toothed. The chief development 

 of the group in North America is to be found in the regions lying to the 

 westward of the Missouri River and southward of the Platte. Here the 

 species of Cantharis and Pyrota abound, and, with representatives of 

 several peculiar genera which are unknown in the Eastern districts, give 

 to the fauna a facies which is unmistakable. Some of these Southwestern 

 forms are of considerable size, Macrobasis io?igicollis, Lee, reaching the 

 length of an inch, while Af. atrivittata is even larger, and is, besides, 

 of great beauty. Cysteodemus Wislizeiii, Lee, is remarkable on account 

 of its form — the elytra being convex and inflated, giving a comical appear- 

 ance of obesity to the insect. In colour it is of a bright blue, and a more 

 curious species in most respects does not exist in our fauna. 



The genera reported from Canada may be readily separated by the 

 following table : — 



Elytra short, overlapping along the suture and leaving most of the abdo- 

 men exposed. Wings absent Meloe. 



Elytra long, almost or quite covering the abdomen, not overlapping at 

 suture. Wings usually present. 



Second joint of antennae as long or longer than the third ; first joint 



elongate in the male Macrobasis. 



Second joint of antennae shorter than the third, usually not more 

 than half as long. 



Antenna not thickened towards the tip, setaceous, usually much 

 longer than the head and thorax. Surface of body not 



metallic Epicanta. 



Antennfe scarcely longer than the head and thorax, much thick- 

 ened towards ihe tip ; the outer joints short and broad. 



Labrum deeply emarginate at middle Pomphopxa. 



Antennae extending beyond base of thorax, the joints bead-like 

 in form ; labrum slightly emarginate at middle. Surface of 



body metallic Cantharis. 



It will be understood that the above characters are not of necessity 

 essential, and that they are intended to apply only to the Canadian forms 

 constituting the genera. Several species of Cantharis from other regions 

 are not metallic, and there is a great range of variation in the form of the 

 antennae. This matter is discussed more fully in Dr. Horn's papers, the 

 titles of which may be found in the bibliography. 



