134 GEO. H. HORN, M. D. 



A. lal icol lis Lee. — The surface is slightly bronzed but much more shining 

 than in either of those which precede. The thorax is rather wider, the strise less 

 deep and those at the side almost entirely obliterated. Length .12 inch; 3 mm. 



Occurs in Oregon, California and Arizona. 



BLECHRUS Motsch. 



This genus is composed of a small number of black shining species 

 differing from the allied genera either by the slightly lobed base of 

 thorax, the mentum not toothed or the claws serrate. The ligula proper 

 is small and bisetose at tip, the paraglossae rather wide and completely 

 surrounding the ligula. In examining the illustrations of the mouth 

 parts (Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. ix, pi. viii, figs. 8G, 87, 88, 89, 90), it will 

 be observed that Blechrus and Axinopalpus have the ligula bisetose in 

 front, Apristus and Metabletus quadrisetose and Dromius sexsetose. 



The species of Blechrus are as follows : 



Thorax very distinctly wider than long, broadest about one-third from apex. 



Elytra faintly substriate at middle - iligriuus Mann. 



Thorax not wider than long, widest immediately behind the apex. 

 Elytra almost smooth. 



Elytra longer than head and thorax, sides nearly parallel lucidus Lee. 



Elytra not longer, sides distinctly arcuate pusio Lee. 



B. iiigrillUS Mann. - Form moderately elongate, depressed, black, shining. 

 Head microscopically alutaceous. Thorax about one-fourth wider than long, 

 sides moderately arcuate in front, slightly sinuate posteriorly, the hind angles 

 rectangular, disc moderately convex, the median line deeply impressed but not 

 entire, the surface very finely transversely strigose. Elytra oblong, nearly parallel, 

 one-third longer than the head and thorax, disc obsoletely striate near the suture, 

 smooth at the sides. Body beneath smooth shining. Legs black. Length .12 — 

 .14 inch; 3 — 3.5 mm. 



Male. — Anterior tarsi with three joints feebly dilated, indistinctly lamellate 

 beneath. Anal segment with one juncture each side. 



Female. Tarsi slender, anal segment with one puncture each side. 

 This species has a distribution from New York to California by 

 the northern line through Canada, the larger specimens occurring in 

 Vancouver. It will be observed in many specimens that, owing to 

 the thinness of the elytra and their disposition to curl, the. form is 

 apparently more elongate. From a comparison under the microscope 

 I can see no differences between the forms from California and those 

 from Lako Superior. 



B. lucidus Lee. — Form and color of nignnus, differing only as follows : 

 Thorax as long as wide, widest immediately behind the apical angles, hind angles 

 small not prominent. Elytra parallel, nearly without any traces of stria;, the 

 surface microscopically transversely strigose. Length .10 — .12 inch; 2.5 — 3 mm. 



Sexual characters as in nigrinus. 

 Occurs in Kansas, Nevada, Oregon and California. 



