678 Goleopterological Notices, VI. 



and much duller than the other segments, while in monitor this 

 segment is more narrowly rounded and does not differ in sculp- 

 ture or lustre. ' 



4. V. coiifiiiis Lee. — Ann. Lye, N. Y., V., p. 153.; Proc. Ac. Nat. Set., 

 Phila., 1852, p. 98 (Anthicus). 



Narrow, highly polished, black throughout, the under surface 

 and legs frequently paler. Head subquadrate, rather longer than 

 wide, very minutel}^ punctate, the punctures very sparse an- 

 teriorly and extremely' remote toward base, the latter broadly 

 arcuato-truncate and not impressed ; eyes somewhat large, fully 

 as long as the tempora and more prominent ; antenniii rather 

 slender, noticeably incrassate, scared}' as long as the head and 

 prothorax, the penultimate joints not quite as long as wide. 

 Prothorax quite distinctly longer than wide, the sides strongly 

 rounded anteriorly, oblique and straight thence to the basal 

 margin, which is distinctly swollen ; surface convex, finely, very 

 remotely punctate, the punctures becoming a little more distinct^ 

 but scared}' more numerous, toward base ; vestiture not distinct. 

 Elytra less than twice as long as wide, twice as wide as the pro- 

 thorax, just visibly dilated behind the middle and thence gradu- 

 ally narrowed to the apex, which is not ver}' broadly rounded ; 

 disk slightly impressed on the sutui'e behind the scutdlum, 

 coarsel}', deepl}' and rather closel}' punctate, the punctures im- 

 pressed, becoming fine toward apex ; pubescence extremely minute 

 and decumbent. Abdomen finely reticulate, shining, minutely, 

 sparsely punctate and rather sparsely pubescent. Length 2.3-2. & 

 mm.; width 0.6-0.75 mm. 



Texas to southern California. A very abundant species, readil}' 

 distinguishable from laetus hy its narrower form, narrower and 

 less globular prothorax and denser punctuation ; the vestiture is 

 even shorter and more minute than in that species. The upper 

 surface is invariably black throughout, but I have before me a 

 small specimen from Texas, which is entireW pale flavate and 

 translucent, apparently very immature, except that the integu- 

 ments are not distorted in drving. 



'»• 



5. V. nigritlllus Lee. — Ann. Lye. X. Y., V, p. 154; Proc. Ac. Nat. 

 Sci., Phila., 1852, p. 101 (Anthicus). 



Black, highly polished ; antennae toward base and legs through- 

 out dark brown ; pubescence sparse but long, coarse and distinct, 



