KEVISION OF ELEODIINT BLAISDELL. 415 



From longicollis (see p. 427) it is separated by feeble characlei-s. 



In gigantea the thorax is usually much more strongly arcuate at 

 the sides, the disc less strongly arcuately declivous and inflexed, the 

 pronotum appearing broader, as compared to longicollis where the 

 side margins are more strongly declivous and inflexed, the margins 

 appearing less strongly arcuate and the pronotum longer. 



In gigantea the thorax has a much stronger antero-posterior con- 

 vexity. 



The mutic profemora of both sexes distinguishes gigantea from all 

 of the members of the subgenus Eleodes, except sponsa^ caxdifera, 

 and long'iyUosa; these species are roughly sculptured, or caudate, and 

 therefore not easily mistaken for gigantea. 



The genital characters serve to separate it from all other subgenera 

 if there be any doubt. 



The form found about San Francisco Bay and named by Colonel 

 Casey as esttiata is related to gentilif< (see p. 423) ; the typcial form is 

 rare, but found there. 



Some of the smaller individuals might be more difficult to separate 

 from the larger specimens of nigr'ma. The latter species has dull 

 integuments and the sculpturing is coarser, especially that of the 

 prothorax. 



I have one specimen of nigr'ma that was collected at Verdi, Nevada, 

 which simulates gigantea quite perfectly; it measures 24 mm. in 

 length, which is larger than some of the smaller examples of gigantea. 



General ohservations. — The mentum is triangulo-parabolic in out- 

 line, slightly wider at base than long; the ajjex is usually rounded, 

 sometimes apparently truncate on account of the tip being slightly 

 and briefly recurved; rarely the apical margin is feebly impressed 

 at middle so as to appear emarginate; the surface is quite coarsely 

 punctate, the punctures are not usually crowded, each bearing a 

 rather long hair, giving it a bearded appearance. 



The prosternum is strongly arcuate between the coxae, both being 

 decidedly protuberant ventrally; the ante-coxal surface more or less 

 sinuate and oblique, continuing the surface line of the intercoxal 

 part; behind, it bears a small conical mucro. These characters are 

 quite constant in the series before me. 



The mesosternum is quite vertical and moderately arcuate, more or 

 less concave. 



The abdominal and metasternal salients are about equal in width. 

 The abdominal process is slightly longer than wide, that is, slightly 

 oblong. 



The post-coxal portion of the first segment is equal in length to the 

 second, the latter is about, or a little more than twice as long as the 

 fourth ; the third is a little less than twice as long as the fourth. 



