Horn.] 4_0 [Sep. 19, 



to apex, surface striate, striae coarsely punctured, punctures gradually 

 finer to tip, intervals nearly equal, feebly convex, sparsely punctulate. 

 Pygdium coarsely and sparsely punctured. Body beneath moderately 

 and sparsely punctate. Length .20-.2S inch ; 0.5-7 mm. 



Closely allied to the following species but differs especially in the ab- 

 sence of anterior fovea of thorax, the greater dilatation of the rostrum at 

 base, and the absence of any evident alternation of the intervals. 



Specimens are before me from Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Oregon. 



S. plaeidus Say. Cure. N. A., p. 23 ; Am. Ent. edit. Lee. I., p. 290 ; 

 venatus, Say, 1. c, p. 22 ; 1. c, p. 289 ; rectus, immunis, Say, 1. c, p. 22- 

 23 ; 1. c, p. 290 ; confusux, Gyll., Schonh., Gen. Cure. IV., p. 944 ; fallax, 

 Boh., 1. c. VIII., 2, p. 250; reticulaticollis, Boh., 1. c, p. 257. 



As all of Say's descriptions were published at the same time, I have 

 chosen that under which the species has been most widely distributed. 

 Strictly speaking venatus is the first, and on the other hand immunis is 

 described in a more recognizable manner than any of the others. The 

 reticulaticollis, Boh., is scarcely worthy of being called a variety, and 

 was probably described as distinct because it was Californian. 



Black, feebly shining. Rostrum slender, three-fourths as long as the 

 thorax, sparsely punctured and feebly canaliculate at base. Thorax longer 

 than wide, anteriorly moderately constricted, sides moderately arcuate at 

 apical third and sub-parallel to base ; above feebly trivittate, median 

 vitta broadly dilated in front (inclosing an impression which is more 

 coarsely and densely punctured), prolonged to a fine line at basal half ; 

 lateral vitta? sinuate, joining the median in front, rarely with traces of 

 oblique branch ; surface coarsely punctate, variolate on each side of me- 

 dian vitta at base. Scutellum smooth, very feebly concave. Elytra 

 oval, moderately attenuate behind, surface finely striate, striaa coarsely 

 punctured, punctures gradually finer to apex, intervals flat, slightly 

 alternating in width and convexity, the narrower uni-seriately punctu- 

 late ; the broider bi-seriately. Pygidium coarsely punctured, at apex 

 sparsely pilose. Body beneath coarsely and moderately closely punctate. 

 Length .24-.40 inch ; 0-10 mm. 



This species is very variable. The form above described, is that in 

 which the sculpture is most developed, but many varieties occur, in 

 which the lateral vitta; are reduced to oblique lines at base. The special 

 character present in all the varieties, and which distinguishes the species 

 from all others in our fauna, is the slight fossa at the anterior median 

 portion of the thorax immediately behind the apical constriction. 



Specimens occur in every part of our fauna, Pacific and Atlantic. 



S. gentilis Lee. Pacif. R. R. Rep., 1857, p. 58. 



Piceous or pale castaneous shining. Rostrum slender, three-fourths as 

 long as thorax, sparsely, at base more coarsely punctured and finely 

 canaliculate, and with an impressed point between the eyes. Thorax 

 longer than wide, moderately constricted in front, sides anteriorly mod- 



