1873.] «*"• [Horn. 



moderately coarsely and densely punctured. Thorax with margin ciliate, 

 disc minutely and very sparsely punctulate, sides coarsely and moder- 

 ately densely punctured ; punctures extending slightly along the apex, 

 and very narrowly along the base. Elytra densely punctured at apex, 

 punctured space neatly limited in front, punctures extending to the 

 bases of the first and second interstria? ; external subhumeral very short, 

 internal short, feebly impressed and disconnected ; first dorsal extending 

 slightly beyond the middle, 2—3—4 gradually shorter, the latter arched at 

 base joining the sutural which is entire. Pygidium moderately densely 

 and coarsely punctured. Anterior tibiae finely multidenticulate, middle 

 and hind tibiae spinulose. Length .10-.14 inch ; 2.3-3.5 mm. 



The smooth space at the base of the two inner interstria) varies in 

 extent. The species is somewhat variable. The above description is 

 drawn from the type, pratensis is a smaller form less distinctly bronzed, 

 olidus is more broadly oval. 



By some unaccountable error, Gemminger and Harold quote minutus 

 as synonymous with plenus. In the " List " of the Coleoptera of X. A., 

 (/< 8< riorum, Mars., is similarly placed, but erroneously. This species is the 

 aciculatus of the MS. catalogue of Dr. Leconte, and specimens may 

 have been distributed under that name. 



This species is widely distributed from California, through Arizona 

 and New Mexico to Texas and Kansas. 



S. fimbriatus, Lee. Ann. Lye. V., p. 169; Mars. Mon., 1835, p. 495, 

 pi. 19, fig. 112 ; desertorum, Mars. Mon., 1857, p. 442, pi. 11, No. 33, fig. 

 88. b ; var. orbiculatus, Mars. Mon., 1855, p. 497, pi. 19, fig. 114. 



Oval, convex, piceous, elytra brownish, surface bronzed. Head moder- 

 ately punctured, frontal stria interrupted at middle. Thorax with mar- 

 gins fimbriate, disc minutely and very sparsely punctulate, sides with 

 broad punctured space, punctures moderately dense and gradually 

 coarser to the margin, a slight impression near the anterior angles, and a 

 narrow space punctured along the basal margin. Elytra punctured at 

 apical half, punctures sparse and moderately coarse, extending along the 

 outer two interstrial spaces to base ; external subhumeral always present' 

 variable in length, usually short, internal moderate joining the humeral; 

 first dorsal extending to middle, second longer, third shorter than the 

 first, fourth equal to first, arching at base, joining the sutural which is 

 entire ; striae continued by smooth lines between the stria), of variable 

 distinctness. Propygidium and pygidium moderately densely and 

 coarsely punctured. Legs rufous, anterior tibiae multidenticulate, middle 

 and hind tibiae spinulose. Length .08-14 inch ; 2-3.5 mm. 



Var. fimbriatus, Lee. Punctures extending in the first two interstria' 

 to base, sparse but moderately coarse. External subhumeral deeply im- 

 pressed, short and distant from the margin, striae of elytra very distinctly 

 continued by smooth spaces. 



Var. desertorum (Lee. f), Mars. Elytral punctures very sparse and 

 A. p. s. — vol. xiii. 2q ■ 



