NORTH AMERICAN COLEOPTERA. 163 



On the species of CAMTHOIV and PHAN.KUS of the 

 United States with notes on other genera. 



BY FREDERICK BLANCHARD. 



CANTHOi\ Hoff. 



The genus CnntJion is peculiar to America, and is largely represented 

 in the tropical region, nearly a hundred species having been described by 

 Harold in his monograph. Berliner Ent. Zeit. 1868, vol. xii. 



The clypeus in this genus is separated from the genae, or sides of the 

 head, by a suture extending from some distance within the eyes obliquely 

 outward. In many of the species with four clypeal teeth the margin of 

 the head is strongly indented at the suture making the genae more or 

 less acute and prominent, when the clypeus has been said to be sex-den- 

 tate ; but in the following table reference will be made to the clypeus as 

 quadri-dentate or bi-dentate. 



The prothorax beneath exhibits two forms. In one the sides in front 

 of the middle are distinctly transversely carinate and anteriorly smooth 

 and deeply concave for the reception of the femora, and the side margin 

 is entirely glabfous. I have followed the example of LeConte in using 

 this character primarily to separate two species, although Harold only 

 uses it subsidiarily in the classification of minor groups in diiferent parts 

 of the genus. In the other form the sides are smooth, or with traces of 

 an imperfect carina, not constant in the same species, extending frt)m the 

 coxae outward ; anteriorly there is a moderate concavity always more or 

 less hairy, and near the side margin is a fringe of hairs. There is usually 

 a small tubercle or denticle beneath, towards the anterior angle which is 

 formed by an abrupt termination of a slight inferior thickening of the 

 side margin in front. 



The eighth or subhumeral stria of the elytra in some species is finely 

 carinate at its antertor third or half; best observed when viewed laterally 

 from the same side. Usually the carina is external and the stria visible, 

 but in Le Contei the stria is represented in front only by the carina. 



The anterior tibiae in the males of two species, and in the females of 

 all, have a single acute spur, sulcate on the outer side and curved out- 

 ward. With the two exceptions noted, in the males the spur is broad at 

 apex, more or less deeply emarginate, usually somewhat excurved and 



