XOnni A.MKRICAN rOLEOl'TERA. 111!) 



The elvtial uiarkiiig are very variable. The general cuKir is testaceous, 

 with a scutellar spot on each side, a fascia exactly median, which, when 

 entire, sends a process forward on the suture, tlie apical third is also pice- 

 ous, the anterior border of this space is deeply concave forward. Some 

 of the paler varieties fesemble monoifon. while the darker forms apyjroach 

 A//a.sY"iV//M.s. 



With this species I have no hesitation in unitinu snfifi/is liec. and r/r- 

 (jdntulns Laf. The latter species was obtained by Laferte from the same 

 collection, and from the description and the series of specimens before 

 me I am convinced that elegantulm is one of those males in which the 

 obli(|ue humeral imjtression is unusually well marked. 



It may be well here to note that taljin and d>yuiitulns were collected 

 by Piccolomini, and all his specimens were credited to California. I have 

 already had occasion to express my. views that none of the specimens 

 were colleeted in California as at present understood, and these add 

 another link to the chain of evidence. 



Occurs from Montana to Texas, and from Illinois to Colorado* 



N. bir»Neiatii»» Lee. — Pioeous, shining, pubescence sparse and fine; elytra 

 piceous, with two j'ellow fasciae, the anterior nearly transverse, divided by the 

 suture, the posterior at apical third interrupted by the suture and oblique; head 

 piceous, sparsely punciulate and rather sliining. pubescence very sparse, front fiat, 

 not concave; antennae ferruginous; thorax globose, slightly transverse, sparsely 

 but distinctly punctate, very sparsely pubescent, shining, horn moderate in length, 

 distinctly margined, feebly serrate at the sides, oval at tip, crest abruptly elevated, 

 distinctly margined, hot serrate; elytra oblong, humeri distinct, apices conjointly 

 rounded in bolii sexes ; disc transversely impressed behind the base ; surface finely 

 not densely punctulate, finely pubescent, and with few short semi-erect hairs ; bodv 

 beneath finely punctulate and sparsely pubescent. Length .12 — .14 inch; 3 — .3.5 

 mm. 



In the male the last ventral segment is truncate, and with a very slight 

 impression. The thoracic horn is much narrower in the male, so that the 

 crest is very nearly as wide as the horn itself. 



This species shows very little variation beyond what may be considered 

 a greater or less maturity of the specimens, the thorax and legs being at 

 times quite red, at others piceous. The bands of the elytra are quite 

 constant in their position and size, and the post-basal transverse impres- 

 .sion is always well marked in both sexes. The pubescence on the elytra 

 imitates the color of the surface, from which it arises. I refer a speci- 

 men with entirely piceous elytra ; to this species, it was collected in 

 Colorado. 



Occurs ev(>ry where fnim (^mada to Arizona, and westward to the 

 Uocky Mountitins. 



TKANS. AMKH. KNl. SOC. XI. (43) MAV, 1884. 



