AMERICAN COLEOPTERA. 147 



In the claws pnhescens has, on the anterior, a tooth longer than 

 half the apical portion, Carpenteri Bcavcoiy a third and palpalls about 

 a fourth. The posterior claw of each pair of feet is thus modified : 

 on the front legs of jvihcscens this claw is slightly dilated but no tooth, 

 middle legs abrupt dilatation no tooth, hind legs abrupt dilatation and 

 a small tooth ; in Carpenteri on the anterior legs this claw is feebly 

 dilated at base, on the middle legs slightly dilated with a minute 

 tooth, on the hind legs similar with the tooth a little more evident- 

 in palpalis the same claw has on the front legs a minute tooth, on the 

 middle a stronger tooth while on the posterior legs the tooth of the 

 two claws is very nearly equal. 



These comparisons show that Vfhih pnhescens is the most specialized 

 type from the fact that its claws are most dissimilar in each pair of 

 legs, the other species depart from this and seem gradually to approach 

 the true Mdolonthse in which both claws are alike, the approximation 

 being best marked in palpalis. While this approach occurs in the 

 latter species it will be noticed that, as if by compensation, the termi- 

 nal joint of the palpi assumes a much greater development and reverts 

 to the type of the Clavipalpides in a mDre decided manner than in 

 either of the other two species. 



The discovery of the new species above leaves very little doubt in 

 my mind that the view already expressed by me that Plectrodes must 

 be associated with the allies of Tanyproctus in the Clavipalpides as 

 constituted by Lacordaire. From its slender tarsi it is most closely 

 allied to Clavipalpus from which it differs in having the antennfe 

 10-jointed and the claws dissimilar and dentate and not cleft. 

 PHII.EIIKLTS Latr. 

 The descriptions of our species are not accessible to many students 

 and the following not^ will assist in their recognition : 

 Outer apical angle of posterior tibite spiniform. 



Head with two moderately long, obtuse, curved processes; median groove of 

 thorax moderately deep, limited in front by a tubercle which i^s distant 



from the apical margin, thorax flattened in front truncatus. 



Head with two conical tubercles, groove of thorax deep nearly attaining the 



front and limited by a tubercle which is near the apical margin. ..valgus. 



Head with two small tubercles, median groove of thorax very feeble, no 



tubercle, surface of thorax very coarsely and densely punctured in 



front .,, . 



^, . , , „ illatus. 



Outer apical angle of hmd tibise not spiniform, the margin fimbriate with 

 short stout spinules. 



Head with a feeble transverse carina, thoracic groove nearlv obsolete and 



without tubercle " .„_ii. 



, cribrosus. 



in the tirst two species the hind tibia are strongly bi- or even tri- 



