226 GEO. H. HORN, M. D. 



Antennre 10-jointed, cajiitate, the last four joints forming an abrupt club. 

 Middle coxae widely separated. Anterior coxae widely open behind 

 without post-coxal extension of the itrothoracic epimera. (PI. V, 



fig, 2.) Kecrophorus. 



Antennae 11-jointed, either slender or gradually clavate. 



Middle coxae moderately separated. Anterior coxae widely open behind with- 

 out post-coxal process of prothoracic epimera. (PI. V, fig. 4 a.). 



Silpha. 

 Middle coxae narrowly separated or contiguous. Anterior coxae narrowly 

 open, partially closed by a prolongation of the prothoracic epimera . 

 (PI. V, fig. 6 a.). 

 Epipleural fold wide, the elytra margined at the sides. Last joint of 

 maxillary palpi slender. 

 Antenufe gradually clavate, not longer than the head and thorax. 



Antennae free at base, not inserted under a frontal margin, first and 

 and third joints long, the latter as long as the next two. 



Necrophilus. 

 Antennae arising under a frontal margin, first joint short, robust, third 



scarcely longer than the second Pelates. 



Antennae slender, scarcely thicker externally, as long as half the body. 



Elytra entire,- penultimate tarsal joint simple Pleroloiiisi. 



Elytra truncate; penultimate joint bilobed ....Apatetica. 



Epipleural fold narrow, the elytra with an extremely narrow margin. Last 



joint of maxillary palpi ovate Agyrtes. 



Antennae 11-jointed, capitate, the last three forming an abrupt club. Anterior 

 coxal cavities narrowly open behind, partially closed by a slender 

 prolongation of the epimera. 



Abdomen with five segments. Elytra truncate Splijerites. 



Of the above genera Apatetica does not belong to our fauna, while 

 Pelates is thus far peculiar to it. JSfecrophorus and Silpha are widely 

 distributed, Necro-philus has one species on each side of the continent, 

 the other genera occur on the Pacific coast alone. 



NECROPIIORUS Fab. 

 Head large, suddenly narrowed in front of the eyes and also at a little dis- 

 tance behind them. Eyes large, oblique, moderately prominent. Labrum 

 transverse, deeply bilobed. Cij'peus rhomboidal, separated from the front by 

 a fine suture and with a membranous rhinarium of variable size and shape. 

 Antennae free at base, geniculated, apparently ten-jointed, terminated by an 

 abrupt four-jointed club, the first joint of which is glabrous, scape elongate 

 gradually clavate very nearly as long as the five following joints, second joint 

 longer than any of the following, joints 3 — 6 gradually shorter and broader; 

 the second and third joints of the club emarginate in front the last elevated in 

 an obtuse carina. Palpi short, the last joint cylindrical slightly acuminate at 

 tip, the penultimate obconical and stouter. Anterior coxae conical, prominent 

 and contiguous with large trochantin, the cavities strongly angulate externally 

 and widely open behind, the post-coxal portion of the epimera short, broad 

 and obtuse. Middle coxae widely separated. Posterior coxae prominent, con- 

 tiguous. Legs of moderate length, stout, the tibiae broader at tip each with 

 two spurs of moderate length, the outer edge spinulose. Tarsi slender the 



