NORTH AMERICAN COLEOPTERA. 75 



in many instances, seems to be quadrate, thus approaching dentatus. 

 However, many other characters, not possessed in common, lead me to 

 beUeve that the two species are distinct. 



In Crotch's check list there is a variety of iV. tJenfntua given ix^i N. 

 major. I have had an opportunity for examining this also, and find that 

 it is simply iV. t/entatus, without any difference at all, as far as I can 

 discover. 



Sub-family II.— PASSANDRINAE. 



Maxillae concealed by corneous plates, which project from the lateral 

 borders of the buccal opening. Mentum very short, linear ; ligula cor- 

 neous. Elytra covering the entire abdomen. Anterior and middle coxae 

 globular. Anterior coxal cavities open behind. Tarsi pentamerous in 

 both sexes, first joint often very short. Body elongated, depressed, or 

 sub-cylindrical. Antennae filiform, last joint compressed, and often cari- 

 nated ; extremities of mandibles simple. • Head quadrate ; eyes moderate, 

 coarsely granulated. 



The singular insects which constitute this sub-family are found under 

 bark, and are, in general, much larger than those of the one last described. 

 The various genera are quite heterogeneous in general appearance, and 

 may be analyzed as follows : 



Jugular plates more or less broad and flattened. 



First joint of tarsi very short CatogeilUS. 



First joint of tarsi of normal length ^»cali<lia. 



Jugular plates long and acute Prostoiiiis. 



€.%.TOGEIVlIS Westw. 

 Antennae robust, joints one to ten nearly globular, first largest, second smallest: 

 last joint compressed, and carinate along the vertex. Mesostcrnum flat between 

 the middle coxae. Body elongated and quite depressed. 

 We have in our fauna but one species. 



1. V. rilfllS (Fabr.).— Dark castaneous. Elytra deeply and closely striate. 

 Prothorax punctured quite uniformly with the exception of a median line, which 

 is free from punctures. Antennae inserted in the anterior portion of grooves in 

 the side of the head, in the posterior portions of which the eyes are situated; cili- 

 ated on the sides whidi would naturally be brought into mutual contact. Eyes al- 

 most invisible from above, more salient from below. Length ;i.8— 13.0 mm. 

 Pa., D. C, Dae, Ariz., Neb. Plate V, Fig. 2. 



This species, which is common and widely distributed, is very variable 

 in size. The jugular plates are large, and their borders are suddenly 

 thickened into a sort of li|i. 



SCAI.IDIA Ericlis. 



Head sub-oval and obtuse, not contracted behind. Epistoma einarginate in the 

 middle. Eves oval, small, coarsely granulated. Last joint of antennae not larger 



