58 CASEY 



sparse, even, muricate punctures might give it validity, but it is 

 connected in this respect so gradually, by way oi pt'oductus and 

 difficilis^ with the coarsely reticulate species of the convexus 

 type, that this attempt also proves futile and we are compelled 

 to suppress the name as a virtual synonym of Eusatitis. In Dr. 

 Horn's later tables of £usaitus, which included all of the sub- 

 tribe Eusatti as defined above, he gave far too much weight to 

 the margining of the prosternal lobe, bringing thereby into jux- 

 taposition species that have no close mutual relationship what- 

 ever ; this is especially noticeable in his latest table (Proc. Cal. 

 Acad., Ser. 2, IV, p. 423). Although wholly without signifi- 

 cance in delimiting groups, the beaded margin of the prosternal 

 lobe is useful in defining species if interpreted broadly, due 

 allowance being made for a certain amount of variability, or 

 more especially accidental malformation. It becomes particu- 

 larly valuable in the great genus Contontis, so deficient in 

 marked structural diversity, as will appear subsequently. 



It is interesting to note, in view of the many points of resem- 

 blance between the Coniontinae and Zophosini, that one of the 

 first of our species to be described should have been assigned to 

 the genus Zophosis by Say, presumably upon descriptive evi- 

 dence only. It may also be observed in connection with state- 

 ments made above, that more than a fourth of the genera of 

 Coniontini are confined exclusively to the islands off the coast 

 of California. 



Nesostes n. gen. 



This genus is represented at present by one or two species, 

 among the largest of the entire subfamily and possessing many 

 peculiarities of structure and sculpture. The epipleuraa are 

 very wide and almost even in width in about basal half, be- 

 tween the simple inner margin of the inflexed part of the 

 elytra and the acute and very narrowl}' reflexed lateral mar- 

 gins, and the elytral sculpture is notably different from any- 

 thing occurring elsewhere. The type may be described as 

 follows : — 



Body broadly oblong-oval, convex, glabrous, with a few fulvous hairs 

 near the external margin of the hypomera posteriorly and on the 

 epipleuraj, except externally, deep black, the upper surface aluta- 



