EE VISION OF ELEODIINT BLAISDELL. 29 



California (Horn). I have kept several Eleodes dentipes in cap- 

 tivity for over four years. Doctor Horn states that siDecimens have 

 been kept pinned two months without food or water. Eleodes elavl- 

 coniis dies quickly in confinement and apparenth^ lives but one 

 season. 



Food. — All are vegetable feeders, apparently preferriug dried vege- 

 tation and fungi, although eating green plants. 



Exemies. — Quadrupeds like skunks will feed upon them; chickens 

 devour them readily, as well as ground oavIs; butcher birds impale 

 them on thorns. 



Eeonomles. — As far as I have been able to determine they are 

 neither injurious nor beneficial, unless the larvae are in some Avay 

 troublesome, but as they appear to prefer decaying vegetation to the 

 living I doubt that they can be considered objectionable. 



Origin and diffusion. — It is impossible for me at this time to ex- 

 press any opinion upon the origin and diffusion of the species making 

 up the tribe Eleodimi ; but I believe the species to a great extent had 

 their origin in Mexico, or in adjoining desert regions, and that diffu- 

 sion has been chiefly northward and westward. 



I know^ of no fossil remains of species referable to the tribe, and a 

 few^ that were supposedly so were from a very recent deposit and 

 identical with species now^ existing. (See x\ppendix.) 



It remains for the study of the Mexican fauna to aid us. The 

 South American Nyeterinvs will l)e referred to elsewhere. 



Distribution. — Abundant both in species and individuals through- 

 out the region west of the Mississippi Eiver, from the northern 

 boundary line of the United States, southward into LoAver Califor- 

 nia and Mexico to South America, where they are replaced by 

 Nycterinus. They also inhabit the islands adjacent to the w-estern 

 coast of the territory above named. 



ANALYTICAL KEY TO GENERA OF ELEODIINI. 



Our genera are five in number, one having been introduced from Europe. 



Outer joints of antennae broader (Eleodiini) 1 



Outer joints of antennae not broader; 8-10 moniliform, suddenly sliorter tlia<fi 

 the preceding joint {BJaptini) Blaps. 



1. Sides of the epistoma not dilated, margin straight or sinuate, converging 



anteriorly 2 



Sides moderately dilated, margin arcuate Troyhnlerus. 



2. Epipleune attaining the humeral angles 3 



Epipleurse very narrow, not attaining the humeral angles Embaphion. 



3. EpipleursE broader at base, more or less gradually narrowing to apex. 



Epipleurse occupying only a part of the inflexed portion of the elytra ; 



buccal processes of the genje not produced Eleodes. 



Epipleurfe occupying the whole of the inflexed portion of the elytra ; 



buccal processes of the genie acutely produced Eleodimorpha. 



