BEETLE GENUS ONTHOPHAGUS — HOWDEN, CARTWRIGHT 35 



apart from the other North American forms. The eight specimens 

 bearing biological data were all taken associated with bat dung in 

 caves. Collecting the specimens in this extremely unusual niche 

 might be considered chance except for the occurrence of a related 

 Mexican species on bat dung in caves. This latter species was de- 

 scribed, compared with brevifrons, and its biology discussed by How- 

 den, Cartwi'ight, and Halflfter (1956). There are probably other 

 species with similarly odd habits. Such an unusual habitat helps 

 explain why 0. carvernicollis has been so long undescribed and why 

 there are still so few specimens known. 



The specimen from Texas, without definite locality, in the collec- 

 tion of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, bears a blue 

 paratype label. No. 3570.3, and is presumably one of the original 

 cotypes of brevifrons Horn. 



Onthophagus polyphemi polyphemi Hubbard 



Plate 3, Figures 14 and 15 



Onthophagus polyphemi Hubbard, 1894, p. 311. — Henshaw, 1895, p. 22. — Schaef- 

 fer, 1914, p. 293.— Leng, 1920, p. 248.— Boucomont and Gillet, 1927, p. 207.— 

 Cartwright, 1939, p. 285.— Ilowden, Cartwright, and Halffter, 1956, p. 10. 



Male majors. — Length 5.5 to 6.9 mm., width 3.5 to 4.1 mm. 

 Dorsal color very dark reddish brown to black, the head and pronotum 

 sometimes slightly darker than the elytra. Clypeus gradually, slightly 

 reflexed anteriorly, truncate, occasionally barely emarginate, later- 

 ally slightly arcuate, joining almost evenly with the margin of the 

 gena; disc bearing from 15 to 30 small scattered tubercles, at the 

 base of each tubercle a long reddish seta. Posterior margin of clypeus 

 delimited by a long, very distinct, evenly elevated, strongly anteriorly 

 arcuate carina. Front of head behind clypeal carina nearly flat 

 with a dozen or more widely scattered, setose tubercles; genae scarcely 

 extended laterally, their sides often almost parallel; plane of genae 

 slightly lower than frons and gradually sloping downwards, surface 

 smooth sometimes with two or more setigerous tubercles. Carina 

 of vertex nearl}'' straight, obsolete medially (type series), or distinct 

 for its entire length, being highest laterally; when absent medially, 

 it has the appearance of two small separated carlnae, one above each 

 eye (as noted in Hubbard's original description); behind the frontal 

 carina an irregular row of six or more tubercles each with a seta. 



Pronotum convex, margined anteriorly, laterall}", and obsoletely 

 at middle of base. Pronotal protuberance represented by a broad 

 anterior swelling slightly wider than the head, vague at the middle, 

 more distinct laterally, the steep declivity wealdy concave high up 

 at the sides above the anterior angles; anterior angles with scattered, 

 moderate, setigerous punctures, finer and fewer toward middle of de- 



