NORTH AMERICAN COLEOPTERA. 177 



Synopsis of the rHII.OlVTIII of Roreal Amorica. 



]Jy George H. Horn, M. D. 

 « The term Pliilonthi is here used with the scope jriven to the genus 

 Philonthus by Ericlison. Before tliat autlior's time several genera had 

 been sutigested which he did not consider valid. Since tlien the number 

 of species has been so greatly increased that some division seems abso- 

 lutely necessary. While the subject may be open to discussion whether 

 the divisions are really genera, it is none the less convenient to know 

 them by separate names. The division proposed by Fauvel (Faune 

 Gallo-Ilhenane) as far as represented by species in our fauna is as follows : 



First joint of liind tarsi as long or longer than the fifth. 



Last joint of maxillary palpi slender and acicular Pliilontllii!>i. 



Last joint of maxillary palpi flattened, oval, elongate, inner side more convex. 



Cafius. 

 First joint of hind tarsi shorter than the fifth, joints 1-4 decreasing gradually in 

 length. 

 Last joint of maxillary palpi elongate, conical Actobilis. 



In addition to these three Fauvel places two of our species (haltonor- 

 enxis and aplcdJis) in his genus Hesperus, the characters of which are 

 not at all evident as far as our species are concerned. 



The material for the present paper has been obtained from my own 

 cabinet, supplemented by that of Dr. LeConte, with additions from Mr. 

 Henry Ulke, of Washington, and a good series from Mr. E. X. Schwarz 

 <•!' the Agricultural Department. 



To Mr. A. Fauvel, of Caen, France, I am greatly indebted for the 

 loan of many species from his cabinet bearing manuscript names, enabling 

 me to place his material in relation with our own. I have in the majority 

 of cases adopted his manuscript names, and have made exceptions in 

 those cases only in which I have distributed specimens bearing names of 

 m\f own suggestion. 



A few words regarding the history of this papei- may not be inapjiro- 

 priate here. About a year ago Dr. LeConte desired to give a synoptic 

 table oi' sj)ecies of IMiilonthus, as he had already done with several other 

 genera in his " Short Studies." The material was prepared, the sexes 

 of the specimens carefully indicated, and the species separated with a 

 considerable degree of accuracy. Finding the work too great a tax on 

 his eyesight, and as he was unable to use a pen, except with great diffi- 

 culty, he desired me to complete the paper, so that the labor already ex- 

 pended should not l)e lost. Although engaged in other studies I yielded 



lltANS. AM Eli. KNT. sou. .\l. (45) Jl'.NE, 1884. 



