372 Coleopterological Notices. 



taken in the case of old specimens, to examine them under sufficient 

 power to reveal their condition ; if broken and consequently abnor- 

 mally short, which can be readily determined, it is very rare that 

 one or two occasional setae will not remain to indicate the nature 

 of the normal vestiture. When perfect the setae are finely pointed 

 and quite constant in size throughout the individuals of a species. 



The Coniontini constitute a very isolated tribe, but as we are 

 compelled under the present classification to retain it in the Asid- 

 mae, on account of the presence of a distinct trochantin, it would 

 undoubtedly be more consistent to place it at the beginning of that 

 subfamily than at the end, because of the extent and obliquity of 

 the posterior coxae, in which it finds many parallels among the 

 Tentyriinae, but stands absolutely alone in the Asidinae.^ 



The known species of Coniontis may be identified as follows: — 



Vestiture consisting of extremely minute robust setae, generally silvery in color. 

 Elytra coarsely, deeply punctate. 



Abdomen coarsely punctate, generally more or less rugulose ; body very 



large and robust abdOIUilialtS 



Abdomen finely punctate, not rugulose ; body less robust. 



Pronotal punctures rapidly very coarse and rather dense toward the 



sides oralis 



Pronotal punctures extremely sparse and minute throughout the disk. 



inaeqiialis 

 iElytra very finely punctate. 



Form robust, scarcely ever distinctly more than twice as long as wide. 

 Pronotum very minutely and sparsely punctate ; larger species. 



Elytral margin forming a strongly arcuate line when viewed laterally. 



rolitista 

 Elytral margin forming a straight line when viewed laterally. 



elliptica 

 Pronotum densely punctate. 



Base of the prothorax strongly bisinuate lata 



Base very feebly bisinuate opaca 



DForm slender, always distinctly more than twice as long as wide. 



Sides of the head more prominent than the posterior can thus of the eye. 

 Very dull and finely alutaceous ; prothorax short and transverse, ex- 

 tremely coarsely punctured toward the sides ; femora very coarsely 



punctate punctipes 



Highly polished ; prothorax very long and strongly developed ; femora 

 very minutely and sparsely punctate eloiigata 



• As a general rule in this subfamily the hind coxae are small, transverse, 

 and ovoidal, or pointed outwardly, coming very far from attaining the sides 

 of the body. 



