NORTH AMERICAN COLEOPTERA. 189 



clothed with fine yellowish white pubescence in patches, forming bands on the 

 abdomen. Mesosternum deeply sulcate between the coxae. Legs coarsely and 

 deeply punctured. Length .70-. 88 inch; 18-22 ram. 



The first three joints of all the tarsi are spongy pubescent beneath. 



The females are usually less punctured than the males and without 

 the network of pubescence above. This, however, is not constant, as a 

 female in my cabinet has the network as in the male but less pronounced. 



The only specimens I have seen of this species were collected at San 

 Luis Potosi in Mexico. I have no. knowledge of its having been collected 

 within our limits except that the specimens in Dr. LeConbe's cabinet 

 labeled albopictum were said to be variolare by Mr. James Thomson 

 when he examined them during a visit in 187G. These latter specimens 

 are not now before me but I am inclined to think the identification erro- 

 neous and that they are the Vlkei above described. 



The species described as having reticulated lines of pubescence are 

 variolare Thorns., albopictum Wht., infamise Thoms., mortiiale Thorns, 

 and sinistrum Thoms. The first of these is already amply compared 

 with the preceding species. Of albopictum Thomson writes (Physis, i, 

 p. 80) that it is the female which is reticulate with white and not the 

 male. 3f. infamise, has the elytra subconfluently alveolate punctate at 

 base. M. mortuale has the pubescence yellow and the dorsum of the 

 elytra smooth, and the tarsi nigro-pilose beneath. M. sinistrum has the 

 dorsum smooth and the pubescence otherwise arranged than in the other 

 species. 



M. Ci*a.ssiilll Lee. — Form short, robust, black, feebly shining, surface clothed 

 with an extremely fine, black, velvety pubescence. Front sparsely punctate. 

 Scape of antennae smooth, joints 3-5 distinctly annulate at base. Thorax wider 

 than long, slightly narrower at apex, sides with a short acute spine behind the 

 middle, disc moderately convex, a few ^junctures sparsely scattered, coarser and 

 deeper near the base and on the deflexed sides. Elytra rather broadly oval, scarcely 

 narrower posteriorly, humeri broadly rounded, sides abruptly deflexed, surface 

 sparsely and rather finely punctate at basal half, and vaguely wrinkled, the de- 

 flexed portion more distinctly punctate. Mesosternum not sulcate. Body beneath 

 sparsely finely punctate, the coxae conspicously brown pubescent. Femora smooth. 

 Length .74-.90 inch; lS.5-22.5 mm. 



The first three joints of the tarsi are spongy pubescent beneath, the 

 first joint of the hind tarsus sulcate. 



This species is the most robust form in our fauna. 

 Collected in southwestern Texas. 



