NOKTH AMERICAN COLEOPTERA. 25 



ately convex, not depressed at the sides, near the base two depressions on each 

 side, sometimes very feeble, the outer usually the smaller and obliquely placed, 

 the surface rarely with very feeble punctures near the inner depression. Elytra 

 finely striate, strise finely but distinctly ])Uiictured, the intervals either flat or 

 slightly convex with even surface and not conspicuously alutaceous. Body be- 

 neath and legs piceous, the surface smooth and shining, often with slight seneous 

 lustre. Length .24 — .30 inch. ; 6 — 7.5 mm. 



The scutellar striii is usually entire, but specimens are not uncom- 

 mon in which it is free at the posterior end. The series of ocellate 

 punctures on the eighth stria is interrupted at middle. The middle 

 and posterior tibia? of the male are slightly arcuate, that of the mid- 

 dle tibia the more distinct. 



The variations of this s[)ecies have been so often referred to by 

 European students that it is hardly necessary to dilate on them at 

 this time. The form described by Kirby as Icevipennis is founded on 

 specimens of the larger size with shining surface. 



This species has a distribution similar to interstitialis on our con- 

 tinent, although it does not come further south than Canada and 

 Vermont. 



It extends to Alaska, crossing to Asia, thence to Europe, where it 

 occurs in all the higher latitudes, and in middle Europe in the moun- 

 tainous regions. 



Group obesa. 



Antennre ferruginous or brown, legs rufo-piceous or darker. Pro- 

 sternum with a well defined marginal line and plurisetose at apex. 



This group is the equivalent of one of the sub-divisions of Amara 

 called Fercosia by Zimmermann, distinguished from Cella by having 

 the dilated tarsal joints of the male broad and cordiform, while in 

 Cella they are more elongate. There is certainly no appreciable 

 difference in this respect between many Celia and Percosia. The 

 sub-genus is, therefore, reduced to the grade of a group of Ce/ia as 

 Hchaum did. 



The series of ocellate punctures on the eighth stria is very nearly 

 entii'e, that is, there is less of an interruption than is observed in 

 many other species. The prosternum of the male is always abso- 

 lutely smooth, without any trace of the small punctures. The mid- 

 dle and posterior tibi* of the male are very slightly arcuate. 



Two species are known in our fauna belonging to this group. 



Form oblong, not very convex; male shining, female opacjue: nietasternal cjiis- 

 ternuni longer than wkie at base oI»cksi. 



Form short, robust and convex; both s^excs sinning; metastcinal epislcrnnni 

 short, the outer side sliorter than the basal I'orlJM. 



TK.\.NS. AM. ENT. SOC. XIX. (-1) KKHRU.XRY, 18!).'. 



