Coleopferological Notices. lit 



ness that it cannot be distinctly resolved by the highest ordinary 

 working powers of the microscope ; it is to this natural optical 

 diffraction-grating, that the opalescence observable in most of the 

 species is due ; the same effect from a similar cause is more familiar 

 to us, and even more strongly developed, in Selenophorus of the 

 Harpalini. 



The elytral punctures prevailing in the genus are very strongly 

 transversely crescentiform, being much more highly developed than 

 ev^n the most extreme cases which I have observed in Stilbus ; this 

 character is also very marked in the Litochride genera. The setae 

 at the apex of the prosternal process are less highly developed than 

 in Stilbus, being generally shorter and sometimes reduced in num- 

 ber to two, situated at the apical angles. The metasternal process 

 is generally rather longer than in Stilbus, somewhat variable in 

 width, and is usually slightly dilated at the immediate apex, the 

 tumid raesosternum before it being almost invariably shorter. 



The species are probably moderately numerous in the United 

 States ; the five which I have before me may be separated as 

 follows : — 



Color throughout the upper surface piceous or black. 



Form evenly elliptical or suboblong, not at all attenuate behind. 



Piceous, the crescentiform punctures of the series toward the suture wide 

 and strongly developed; transverse strigilation somewhat coarser; 

 form more feebly convex. 

 Setae at the apex of the prosternal process uniformly two in number. 



calcaratus 

 Setae more robust, four or five in number ; form of body much more 



elongate extricatus 



Intense black, the punctures of the series toward the suture very fine 

 and feeble ; transverse strigilation very much finer ; form more convex. 



ergoti 

 Form broadly oval, distinctly attenuate behind from the base of the elytra, 



pale piceous, the elytra very minutely strigilate piceus 



Color castaneoas, the head, pronotum, apex of the elytra, and two discal spots 

 near the base of the latter pale rufo-testaceous ne1)lllosilS 



A. calcaratlis n. sp. — Almost evenly oval, more broadly so and less 

 convex in the male ; piceous above, under surface, legs and antennae pale 

 flavo-testaceous ; lustre subalutaceous. Head extremely minutely, rather 

 sparsely punctate, polished, not distinctly reticulate ; eyes large ; antennse 

 moderate in length, rather slender, third joint slightly shorter than the next 

 two together, fourth much shorter than the fifth, outer joints of funicle just 

 visibly stouter, seventh a little longer than the eighth, the latter rather longer 



