EEVISTON OF ELEODIINI BLAISDELL, 213 



case sculptiliH took on a stronger form of elytral sculpturincr, elongafa 

 an elongate form, and Ice vis by robnstness and a less pronounced form 

 of sculpturing. 



This method of intuitively working out and presenting these gene- 

 alogical data — possibly more theoretical than real — may at least lay 

 a foundation npon which to erect a more substantial knowledge by 

 stimulating biological research and criticism. 



Distnhution. — The four species under consideration are distributed 

 through the following States : 



Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Colorado, Kansas, Ne- 

 braska, Nevada, northeastern California, Oregon, Washington, Mon- 

 tana, and Wyoming. 



Sponsa is southern in habitat, occurring in Texas, Arizona, New 

 Mexico, and Colorado. 



Hispilahris has the most extensive distribution, the typical form 

 occurring in Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma. Kansas, Colorado, Ne- 

 braska, and Wyoming; forma nuyta has thus far been found in Texas 

 and Oklahoma ; forma convexa in Texas; forrna sculptilis in Arizona, 

 Colorado, northeastern California, Wyoming, ]\Iontana, and south 

 into Mexico; forma elongata in Arizona; forma Ian) is in Utah, Ore- 

 gon, and Washington. 



Caudifera from Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado. 



Longipilosa thus far from the desert regions of Nevada and north- 

 eastern California. 



ELEODES SPONSA LeConte. 



Eleodcs fyponsa LeConte, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1858, p. 184. — Horn, 

 Trans. Ainer. Phil. Soc, XIV, ]S70, p. 313. 



Subovate, elongate, black to nigro-piceous. 



Head twice as wide as long, slightly convex, and more or less im- 

 pressed laterally and along the frontal suture; surf ace more or less 

 evenly punctate, punctures moderate, sometimes wath small impunc- 

 tate areas. Antenna' more or less slender and quite long, reaching 

 slightly beyond the base of the prothorax, outer four joints slightly 

 compressed, feebly and gradually dilated; third joint aliout equal to 

 the next two taken together, fourth slightly longer than the fiftli, the 

 latter, with sixth and seventh subequal, eighth about as wide as long 

 and triangular in outline, ninth and tenth wider than long and trans- 

 versely oval, eleventh subovate. 



Pronotum widest scarcely in advance of the middle, about one- 

 fourth wider than long, less than twice as wide as the head, and with 

 the length equal to the apex ; disc smooth and feebly shining, mod- 

 erately and quite evenly convex, more or less declivous at the apical 

 angles, frequently very narrowly impressed laterally along the mar- 



