EEVISION OF ELEODIINI BLAISDELL. 367 



margined; dorsiiin densely subseriately punctate, laterally and on 

 apex scabrous from reclinate granules. Antennae slightly incrassate 

 externally. Length .52. (LeConte.) 



Diagnostic characters. — This race is remarkable on account of the 

 coarse and dense elytral sculpturing, somewhat like that observed in 

 cordata, but with the muricate character predominating; the head 

 and thorax is more coarsely punctured than in 2)aroicoUis or its 

 races above considered; in size the punctures approach those in 

 cordata, but the intervals are perfectly flat and smooth and small 

 impunctate areas are usually present. 



The humeri are prominent and the elytral disc flattened on the 

 dorsum in the males especially. It is interesting to note that the 

 females are apt to be robust and in form qinte like cordata, so much 

 so that most of them have heretofore been placed with that species; 

 the broader prothorax with sides broadly rounded separates con- 

 st /■icf(/- in rotiindipennis the prothorax is rugoso-punctate. 



I have carefully examined the genital segments, and find the dorsal 

 plate not at all angulate at the apical margin, but possessing the char- 

 acteristics of the yarvicoUis group. 



It would be very instructive and an advance in our knowledge if 

 it were possible to determine wdiy the heterotypes of many species 

 or races numic other more or less closely related species. Is it ata- 

 vism, hybridism, or environment? 



If LeConte's description of constricta be compared Avith the one 

 given above, they will be found to agree in most points. 



A specimen before me, and wdiich has been compared with the type 

 by ]\Ir. Blanchard, is pronounced by him as undoubtedly tJiat form 

 descril)ed l)v LeConte, from a specimen collected near Sacramento. 

 The thorax is " ante hasin tuhulatim constricto.'''' 



It is possible that I am making a mistake in applying LeConte's 

 name to this mountain form. I have not seen any specimens from 

 the vicinity of Sacramento. It is possible, of course, that the rivers 

 may have carried individuals down from the higher altitudes, and 

 in this way populated this particular region and elsewhere, for that 

 matter. 



I will quote LeConte's remarks upon constricta : 



Related to E. prodiicta, but the base (protboracic), though uot narrower 

 than the apex, is much more constricted than in that species, so that the sides 

 become impressed. The elytra are broader, more rounded on the sides, the 

 humeri are less broadly produced and conspicuously margined, and the sides 

 are more rough witli small, reclinate tubercles. This species agrees with the 

 description of E. itarvicoUis, given by Mannerheim,'' except that the base of the 

 thorax is not narrower than the apex; Eschscholtz does not, in his description, 

 mention that the sides of the thorax are scabrous, but adds that the base of 



«Bu!l. .AIosc, 1843, p. 271. 



