KORTH AMERICAN COLEOPTERA. 305 



C iiavicularis Zimm. — Oval, narrower posteriorly, piceous black, shining; 

 elytra slightly rufescent at tip and along the suture posteriorly, body very con- 

 vex. Antennse and palpi pale testaceous. Head sparsely, finely and indistinctly 

 punctate. Thorax almost absolutely smooth, a few sparse and fine punctures 

 near the sides, these regularly arcuate from base to apex ; basal marginal line 

 and impressions absent. Elytra very convex, rapidly declivous posteriorly, the 

 sutural region slightly elevated on the declivity, surface with strife of very fine 

 punctures, which are, however, more distinct at sides and apex, the interstrial 

 spaces very sparsely punctate. Body beneath piceous, shining sparsely punctate. 

 Metasternal area with a fine, but distinct oblique line. Prosteruuni distinctly 

 carinate, mesosternal elevation lanceolate, longitudinally sulcate, metasternura 

 in front truncate. Legs rufo-testaceous. Length .06 inch.; 1.5 mm., or a little 

 longer. 



Zimmermann describes the species as having a slight bronze re- 

 flexion, but I have not observed this. He also states that there are 

 eleven rows of punctures, which is true if the extreme marginal row 

 is counted, but this is usually omitted in the count of discal strise. 

 In form the species is very convex, the sides of the elytra nearly 

 vertical, in fact slightly clasping the body. 



This insect has cost me some trouble, but with the result of leaving 

 it with Cercyon. Two characters are, however, rather at variance 

 with that genus. The metasternum at its junction with the meso- 

 sternal elevation is truncate and not acute, as in all other Cercyons 

 examined and the under side of the body is shining and not opaque. 

 The first of these characters is very plainly foreshadowed by grana- 

 rius, which has a similarly shaped mesosternal elevation, although it 

 is flat and not grooved as in the present species. 



While the presence of the oblique metasternal line might cause it 

 to be referred to the series under category 2 in the table, I prefer to 

 associate it with the granarius series. In any event the shining 

 underside will readily distinguish it from these or any other of our 

 Cercyones. 



Occurs from Canada and Michigan southward to the District of 

 Columbia and Louisiana, westward to Kansas. A specimen in my 

 cabinet labeled California, differs only in having the punctures of the 

 strise better marked. 



C!. pubescens Lee— Oval, more attenuate posteriorly, moderately convex, 

 rufo-testaceous, head piceous, surface sparsely pubescent. Antennse and palpi 

 rufo-testaceous. Head usually piceous, sometimes rufo-testaceous. surface 

 sparsely, finely and very indistinctly punctate. Thorax narrowed in front, sides 

 arcuate from base to apex, a faint basal marginal line and a slight impression 

 opposite the base of the fourth stria, surface slightly rugose, but without punc- 

 tures. Elytra with nine rather deeply impressed punctured strife, the intervals 



TRANS. AM. ENT. SOC. XVII. (39) OCTOBER, 1890. 



