254 



suture ; i^ectoral apparatus perfect ; posterior coxa cuneiform, 

 not laminate ; tarsi with entire joints ; nails simple. Body 

 broad, convex ; thorax gibbous. At once distinguished by the 

 dilated sutures between the ora and the antepectus, in wdiich 

 the antennie are buried. If the following have been described 

 will you give me the specific names ? 



Tapheieerus 1. Fuscous, black, punctured; varied with ochre- 

 ous and black oval scales ; thorax very short, foveolato-indented 

 on tlic posterior part of the disk ; posterior angles robust, in- 

 cased at the points ; mentum (?) very much produced and rounded 

 in front beneatli the mouth ; feet paler than the body, length 

 IJ inch. In the male there are two small, round depressions 

 on the disk, and one on each side of the centre. In a variety (?) 

 some of the scales are white and disposed in oblique series 

 on the elytra. [" Your Elater No. 1 is probably, as you suggest, 

 marmoratus Fabr. Its size agrees. I have one specimen much 

 larger from Arkansas." T. Say.] 



Tapheieerus 2. Black, punctured; variegated with pale 

 yellowish and black, cuneate scales above, and with white, 

 short, flat bristles beneath ; thorax canaliculate, posterior angles 

 nearly rectangular : tarsi brownish. Length a little exceeding 

 I inch. Dublin, N. H. . [" C. rectanijidaris nob. ? I have no 

 copy of my paper, but I think you will find that it agrees 

 with the description." T. Say.] 



Tajjheicerus 3. Dark chestnut, punctured ; thorax covered 

 with yellowish, oblong-ovate scales ; elytra Avith paler, cuneate 

 ones ; body beneath with short, flat, white bristles ; thorax 

 canaliculate, posterior angles excurved ; tarsi pale. Length ^^ 

 inch. Dublin, N. H. 



Tapheieerus 4. Black, punctured, head and sides of thorax 

 with brilliant, reddish-tawny, flattened bristles ; elytra with black 

 and body beneath with white ones. Length nearly ^^ inch. 

 A slender species ; thorax more elongated than in the others. 

 The elytra are not striated. [^'- pennatus Fabr." T. Say.] 



The third figure beloAv represents a pentamerous insect. 



