144 GEO. H. HORN. M. D. 



A better idea may be obtained from the accompanying drawings of 

 the intricacies of the thoracic sculpture than from a lengthy description, 

 for such details the student is referred to the plate. 



In naming the genus I desire to pay a tribute of regard to a sincere 

 friend, an untiring collector and enthusiastic entomologist, whose kind 

 assistance I have so often had occasion to acknowledge in this and pre- 

 vious essays, Mr. Henry Ulke, of Washington. 



The specimen described is one of two, from the collection of Mr. 

 Ulke, and was collected in Kansas, the other is from Texas. 



BUPRESTID^. 



HALEC'IA L. etG. 



II. ^entilis n. sp. — Form moderately robust a.< in Psiloptera Drummondi but 

 more narrowed posteriorly, surface bright metallic, green, smoother beneath than 

 above. Head coarsely and deeply punctured, the front slightly concave. Thorax 

 a little longer than the width at apex, base nearly one-half broader, sides regularly 

 arcuate and gradually narrowing from the base to apex, hind angles acute, not 

 prolonged, disc moderately convex, median line broadly impressed posteriorly, 

 surface coarsely, deeply and moderately closely punctured, the punctures at sides 

 coarser and deeper than those of the disc. Elytra as wide at base as the thorax 

 and about two and a half times as long, sides gradually narrowing from the base, 

 the lateral margin serrulate at apical third, sutural angle acute, disc very vaguely 

 sulcate without trace of strise, the surface coarsely and deeply punctured, the 

 punctures rather finer and denser near the apex. Prothorax beneath coarsely and 

 deeply punctate, metasternum more fineh' punctate, very sparsely at middle, more 

 closely at the sides. Abdomen more finely and densely punctured, especially at 

 the sides and apex. Length .40-. 56 inch ; 1(1-14 mm. 



It is with considerable doubt that this species is referred to Halecia. 

 That it belongs to the Chalcophorides as defined by authors generally, is 

 very plainly evident, but the genera of the group and even the divisions 

 of the group itself seem very vaguely characterized. A specimen of the 

 above species sent to Mr. Salle dieted the opinion that it was either a 

 Pelecopselaphus or a new genus. I am unwilling to place it in that genus 

 as the tarsi are flattened from the second joint, and the first joint very 

 distinctly longer than the second. In these respects it agrees more nearly 

 with Hippomelas, in which I include three of our species formerly placed 

 in Gryascutus. In the genera Gyascutus, Hippomelas and Psiloptera, the 

 antennae are inserted in a fovea, which is partly covered by an oblique 

 plate ; in Chalcophora there is a slight ridge, while in the species now 

 under consideration the antennal foveae are entirely uncovered without 

 trace of the ridge. As I feel certain that the insect cannot be placed in 

 any of the genera cited it is placed provisionally in Halecia. As speci- 



