AMERICAN COLEOI'TERA, 101 



Mentum transverse, ligula ruoJerately prominent, feebly emavgiuate, 

 labial palpi short, the second joint long, third inserted at a right angle 

 at the middle of the second. Maxillary palpi moderately long, last 

 joint more slender than the preceding and acute at tip. Prosternura 

 very short before the coxec, prolonged in a very thin lamina between 

 them and a little dilated at tip behind and touching the mesosternura. 

 Anterior coxa? conical, prominent, without trochantin. Mesosternum 

 very short, not entirely separating the middle coxae. Metasternum 

 short, side pieces moderate, epimera concealed. Posterior coxae sud- 

 denly dilated within in oval plates and contiguous at middle. Legs 

 normal, tibice flattened on the outer side and without terminal spurs. 

 Tarsi slightly dilated, shorter than the tibiae, joints 1 — 3 gradually 

 decreasing in length, fourth broader, subbilobed, fifth not elongated. 

 Claws simple. 



By the form of its tai-si this genus resembles Cijplion^ from which 

 it differs by the structure of the labial palpi. From the other genera 

 it differs by the much shorter first joint of hind tarsi, which is here 

 not flattened above as in all except Scirtes. This genus seems to 

 me well founded and as fully entitled to recognition as either Ilelodes 

 or Vi/plion. 



M. explaiiata Lee. — Elongate oval, brownish testaceous, sparsely pubes- 

 cent. Thorax twice as wide as long, apex moderately arcuate, sides more 

 strongly arcuate, base feebly bisinuate, hind angles rectangular, lateral margin 

 rather bi-oadly explanate and slightly reflexed, disc densely finely punctured. 

 Elytra a little wider than the thorax and rather more than three times as long, 

 surface densely punctured, more coarsely than the thorax. Body beneath 

 moderately densely punctulate. Length .20 — .22 inch; 5 — 5.5 mm. 



Occurs in Canada and Michigan. Eesembles the European Ilelodes 

 hirida. 



SCIRTES lilig. 



Head deflexed, front without suture, beneath without lateral elevated 

 line below the eyes, (except orhkulatus). Antennae slender, half as 

 long as the body. Eyes round, moderately prominent. Labrum short. 

 Mentum quadrangular, ligula rounded in front, the third joint of the 

 palpi inserted at the side of the second or at least very obliquely. 

 Maxillary palpi moderate, last joint longer than the third, truncate 

 at tip. Prosternum short, not prolonged between the coxjc which are 

 prominent and contiguous without trochantin. Mesosternum narrow. 

 Metasternum moderate, episterna rather broad, epimera concealed. 

 Posterior coxa) suddenly dilated in a small plate within and contiguous. 

 Anterior and middle legs normal, the tibi;v! with moderate spurs, pos- 

 terior femora oval, saltatorial, the tibiiv; with one long and a shorter 



