338 GEO. H. HORN, M. D. 



at base not Wider than the thorax, sides feebly arcuate, surface striate, striae 

 punctured, intervals flat, densely punetulate. and clothed with coarse cinereous 

 pubescence of darker color along the base and interrupted by transverse bands 

 of darker color, third interval with a more conspicuous white line interrupted 

 by the two obscure bands. Pygidium rufous, nearly vertical, broadly oval, 

 coarsely punctured, sparsely cinereo-pubescent, pubescence more dense along 

 the middle and at the sides. Body beneath black, sparsely pubescent, abdo- 

 men rufous. Legs rufous, under side of hind femur piceous. Length .10 — .14 

 inch; 2.5 — 3.5 mm. 



This is the most abundant species of Bruchus over the region east 

 of the Rocky Mountains. The pubescence of the elytra is somewhat 

 variable in color, the specimens from the Southern States exhibit the 

 markings in their most perfect condition. In specimens not discolored 

 by alcohol, the intervals are alternately of darker color but not con- 

 spicuously so, the third interval is decidedly more white than the rest 

 and interrupted at basal fourth and apical third by a brownish spot. 

 The pubescence on the other iutervals is also similarly but less con- 

 spicuously interrupted and the pubescence then forms two irregular 

 bands. The hind femur is conspicuously armed with a moderate tooth 

 and two denticles. 



The equivalency of Mr. Riley's specimens with ohsoletus has been 

 determined by typical specimens from that author, and it is to be re- 

 gretted that another synouym, must thus be added, made iu defiance 

 of the views of those who have made Say's descriptions a close study. 

 This error is all the more inexcusable as the ohsoletus, by Mr. R's. 

 determination is Say's transversus (j=.]iibisci, Oliv.). 



The catalogue name varicomis has been added to the synonymy as 

 specimens have been so labelled in many cabinets. 



In the " Third Annual Report on the Noxious, Beneficial and other 

 Insects of the State of Missouri," 1871, Mr. Riley gives an excellent 

 account of the habits and ravages of this insect, pp. 52 — 56. 



Abundant over a large extent of our country. 



B. hibiSCi, Oliv., Ent. iv. 79, p. 21, No. 28, pi. 3, fig. 28, a, b; Schonh- 

 Cure, i., p. 101. Tran.svexsus, Say. Cure. p. 3; Am. Ent. Edit. Lee. Vol. 1, p. 261. 

 Robust, broadly oval, black, moderately shining, sparsely cinereo-pubescent, 

 interrupted on the elytral interspaces. Head black, sparsely punctured and 

 pubescent. Antenna? as long as head and thorax, pale rufous, joints 4 — 9 often 

 slightly darker. Thorax twice broader at base than long, sides strongly arcuate 

 and rapidly converging in front, base moderately lobed at middle; surface 

 moderately shining, sparsely punctured and pubescent. Scutellum at tip bifid, 

 median line distinct, clothed with whitish pubescence. Elytra as broad con- 

 jointly as long, sides moderately arcuate, disc convex, surface finely striate, 

 striee punctured, intervals flat, punetulate, and with a few coarser punctures, 



