254 



suture ; pectoral apparatus perfect ; posterior coxa cuneiform, 

 not laminate ; tarsi with entire joints ; nails simple. Body 

 broad, convex ; thorax gibbous. At once distinguished by the 

 dilated sutures between the ora and the antepectus, in which 

 the antennae are buried. If the followino; have been described 

 will you give me the specific names ? 



Tapheicerus 1. Fuscous, black, punctured ; varied with ochre- 

 ous and black oval scales ; thorax very short, foveolato-indented 

 on the posterior part of the disk ; posterior angles robust, in- 

 cased at the points ; mentum (?) very much produced and rounded 

 in front beneath the mouth ; feet paler than the body, length 

 -|-J inch. In the male there are two small, round depressions 

 on the disk, and one on each side of the centre. In a variety (?) 

 some of the scales are white and disposed in oblique series 

 on the elytra. [" Your Elater No. 1 is probably, as you suggest, 

 marmoratus Fabr. Its size agrees. I have one specimen much 

 larger from Arkansas." T. Say.] 



Tapheicerus 2. Black, punctured ; variegated with pale 

 yellowish and black, cuneate scales above, and with wdiite, 

 short, flat bristles beneath ; thorax canaliculate, posterior angles 

 nearly rectangular : tarsi brownish. Length a little exceeding 

 I" inch. Dublin, N. H. [" C. rectangular is nob. ? I have no 

 copy of my paper, but I think yeu will find that it agrees 

 with the description." T. Say.] 



TajjJieicerus 3. Dark chestnut, punctured ; thorax covered 

 with yellowish, oblong-ovate scales ; elytra with paler, cuneate 

 ones ; body beneath with short, flat, Avhite bristles ; thorax 

 canaliculate, posterior angles excurved ; tarsi pale. Length ^^ 

 inch. Dublin, N. H. 



Tapheicerus 4. Black, punctured, head and sides of thorax 

 with brilliant, reddish-tawny, flattened bristles ; elytra with black 

 and body beneath with white ones. Length nearly -^-^ inch. 

 A slender species ; thorax more elongated than in the others. 

 The elytra are not striated. [^'- pcimatus Fabr." T. Say.] 



The third figure below represents a pentamerous insect. 



