108 GEO. H. HORN, M. D. 



gles sometimes dentiform and prominent, the disc never distinctly 

 impressed. Elytra oval, oblong-oval or parallel, the epipleurse ex- 

 tending nearly to the apex ; anterior coxal cavities open behind, 

 sometimes absolutely confluent, often with a narrow prolongation of 

 the prosternum separating the coxse. Legs slender, not long, the 

 tibise slender, slightly broader at tip, all with a terminal spur, that 

 of the posterior pair usually longer; hind tarsi variable; claws 

 appendiculate and divaricate. 



To the genus Luperodes all those species of Liqierus, described in 

 our fauna, are referred, excepting those which have already been 

 referred to Seelida. 



The original description of Luperodes, by Motschulsky, gives 

 nothing tangible by which it can be distinguished from Luperus, 

 and the method adopted by Mr. Jacoby is equally objectionable. 

 In the absence of any of Motschulsky' s species for comparison and 

 study I find myself compelled to rely entirely on the differential 

 characters given by Chapuis, that is to say, in Luperodes all the 

 tibire have a terminal spur, while in Luperus the posterior tibise alone 

 are so formed. This character is not at all times easy to observe, 

 but this is no excuse for neglecting it as a valid structural difference. 



Since the above })aragraph was written I have received, through 

 the kindness of Mr. Jacoby, a specimen of Liqjerodes itigr'qiennis 

 Motsch. In studying this, in comparison with Luperus niger Goze 

 sent at the same time, there seems no reason for a change of opinion. 

 Our L. thoracicus very closely resembles nigripennis, except in its 

 pale legs, and several other species have the same oval form, from 

 which there is a gradual transition in our series to the elongate form, 

 which is thought to be the more characteristic form of Luperus. 



Two other genera are placed by Chapuis in close proximity to 

 Luperodes, and separated from it by the relative lengths of the 

 joints of the posterior tarsi. From the characters given, some of 

 our species should be referred to these genera, Astena and Iphidea, 

 but our species show such a degree of variation in respect to the 

 relative lengths of the tarsal joints that it has been thought best to 

 retain all in the one genus. 



In those species of decidedly oval form, such as thoracicus, lutei- 

 collis, varicornis and atriceps, the first joint of the hind tarsus is 

 fully as long, or even a little longer than the three following joints 

 together, while in the more Cfblong forms the rule is that the first 

 joint is a little shorter than the next three, although several excep- 



