30 J. L. LECONTE, M. I>. 



Black, up])or surface rose-colored; jn'otliorax with two Ijlack spots; sixth ventral 

 sesjment with a small acute einargination, sev-enth rounded at tij). Length 11. 5 mm. 

 % , Mariposa, T'ala Thevoneti Lee. 



POL,YCTiASIS X,.\vm. (cnicnd.) 



Aiiteiiiuo IjipeL-tiiiatc. ( ■£ .strougly, 9 lt!.ss no), fruiii third to tentli 

 joint; ^second joint small, third not shorter than t'ouith ; pectinations 

 at the base of the joints in % : at the middle of the sides in 9 • ii^i^cl 

 becoming shorter on the onter joints which are nearly simple ; eleventh 

 joint sinuate near the tip. 



Mr. (lorham retains this uenus as distinct from Calyptocejihahia. Inxt 

 I do not know upoit what characters the diiference is established. 



Elougate-oval, hlaek. scabrous punctured, jjrothorax with sides and ajjex ful- 

 vous, dorsal channel distinct : '^ seventh and eighth ventral segments testaceous, 

 seventh with a small triangular im-ision, eighth narrow, parallel; ^ sixth and 

 .seventh testacenus, the latter triangular, rounded behind. Length 10 mm. Ohio. 



• biraria Say. 



(iroup 2. — Pliotini. 



In this iiTou}) the antenn;^ are more or less compressed, sometimes 

 .serrate ; the last joint is elongate and rounded at tip. without appendages 

 or sinuation ; the second joint is short, sometimes very short and ti-ans- 

 verse {Lucidota). The sexes are similar in appearauce except in one 

 species of PhutinuH, where the elytra of the 9 ''i"^' short aud the wings 

 wanting. The eyes are larger in % than 5 ■ but are separated by a wide 

 space both above and beneath in all the species. In the % the last 

 ventral segment is small and narrow, covered l)y the scutate last dorsal, 

 which varies in form according to genus and species. The light organs, 

 when present, are more developed in % than $ . which is the reverse of 

 what obtains in the group Lampyres. Tlie head is always covered by the 

 hood-like prothorax. The epipleiu'te of the elytra are wide at the base; 

 the inferior (or distal) margin is reflexed. and converges more or less to 

 the lateral margin of the elytra. The elytra vary in color; in the 

 species without well-develo})ed light organs they are black, with the 

 single excejjtion of F/jropi/r/d: uidicta. where they are broAvn margined 

 Avith testacetms. as in the brilliantly luminous species. 



It wdl therefore be especially necessary for the inexperienced stiulent 

 to ascertain in this group, to what genus his specimen should be referred, 

 before he attempts its specific determination. 



There are in many families of Coleoptera strong resemblances between 

 species of diiferent genera, but I know of none (with the exception (jf 

 certain Rhynchophora), so deceptive as those which our own Hmited 

 fauna presents to ns in this group of Lampyridae. 



