NORTH amf:rican coleoptera. 45 



M. ob*$ciireIIiis n. sp. 



Very similar to and easily confounded with the foregoing, from 

 which it differs in the form of the thorax, which has the base sub- 

 trnncate, hind angles rather distinct; sides almost straight and 

 slightly divergent from base to middle, latter subangulate. Elytra 

 feebly emarginate at base. Length 4 mm. ; .16 inch. 



% as in rotundieoUiA. 



9 . Last ventral with a broad, transverse excavation, not emar- 

 ginate. 



Hab. — Texas, District Columbia (Ulke). 



M. iinbellis n. sp. — Narrower, elongate; jjiceous brown, sparsely and ir- 

 regularly clothed with silvery whitish scales. Antennsp, and legs ferruginous. 

 Rostrum stout, subangulate at the sides, strongly tricarinate, median carina more 

 prominent toward the base; distinctly narrower than the head, from which it is 

 separated by a pronounced, transverse impression, thinly covered with scales, 

 intermixed with very short, erect hairs; surface finely rugu lose. Head distinctly 

 wider than the beak at base, very short, transverse and flattened ; punctate and 

 thinly covered with very small, whitish scales and a few erect hairs. Thorax 

 as long as wide; base slightly rounded and wider than the apex; hind angles 

 rectangular, sides almost straight, subparallel for three-fourths their length, then 

 rounded to apex, latter broadly, but not strongly constricted; sides indented at 

 the middle; surface slightly convex, finely and densely punctate, sparsely 

 squamose; a median and a i shaped lateral vittse of white scales. Elytra about 

 one-fourth wider than the thorax, oblong; base feebly emarginate; sides some- 

 what, though very feebly rounded, gradually narrowed and conjointly rounded 

 at tip. Strife broad, rather strongly impressed, giving almost a subsulcate ap- 

 l)earaiice, punctures well marked, not very close; interstices convex, alternate 

 ones slightly more prominent toward the base, each with a row of short, erect 

 setae, more closely placed and more evident on alternate interspaces; surface 

 scaly in irregular patches and spots, somewhat shining. Beneath, pectus covered 

 with erayish scales. Abdomen glabrous, densely punctate, each puncture bearing 

 a short hair. Legs rather slender ; anterior tarsi of % stouter and broader than 

 middle and bind tarsi. Length scarcely 4 mm. ; .15 inch. Plate I, fig. 14. 



S . Last ventral longitudinally impres.sed. 



9 ?• Last ventral with a round, foveiforra impression. 



Hah. — Louisiana, Washington Territory. Two sj)ecimens from 

 widely different localities in Mr. Ulke's collection. 



HIRTELLUS Group. 



The species of this group are distinguished by the scape of the 

 antennai impinging against the middle, or lower part of the eye ; 

 the elytra slightly narrowed from the humeral angle, each interstice 

 with a row of strongly marked setse. They are densely clothed with 

 yellowish brown scales and resemble each othei" very strongly. 



They are se])arated as follows : 



