OF PUILADELPniA. 297 



Leiigtli more than four-fifths of an inch. 



It may be compared with the S. jnmctutus Fabr, of Southern 

 Kurope, but is of a more slender form, and is otherwise dis- 

 tin;,aiished by the armature of the anterior termination of the 

 head. T liave found specimens in Pennsylvania. It varies in 

 havinii the reflected tip of the head emarginate, and not deeply 

 divided into two teeth. 1 have received a specimen from Ur. T. 

 AV. Harris, of jMilton, Massachusetts. 



[Belongs to Liyi/nis Burm. — Lec] 



MELOLONTHA Fabr. 



1. M. BALIA. — Chesnut-brown ; head and thorax blacki.^h- 

 brown; the former and the inferior surface of the stethidium 

 hairy. [195] 



Body cylindrical ; head blackish, with small but dense and 

 confluent punctures; front, below the vertex, and above the trans- 

 verse impressed line, with a band of rather long dense ochreous 

 luiirs, terminating at the eyes ; clypeus deeply and widely eniargi- 

 nated, the edge reflected, and beneath the edge is a fringe of re- 

 curved hairs; thorax rather prominent on the middle of the 

 lateral edge ; nearly as dark colored as the head ; punctures 

 numerous, irregularly disposed : scutel with a few punctures, 

 and with reflected prostrate yellow liairs at its base, partly 

 covered by the base of the thorax : elytra conflucntly punctured, 

 chestnut-brown: stethidium beneath, with dense pale yellow hair : 

 nails with a prominent tooth on the middle, and an angle at 

 base. 



Var. a. Thorax rufo-castaneous. 



Length more than thirteen-twentieths of an inch. 



This common species was sent to me by Dr. J. F. Melsheimer, 

 niider the name which I have adopted. The following are his 

 remarks: ''it difi'ers from M. qtin-dna in being more cylindrical, 

 from M. qncrcns, in the absence of the " rore coerulescenti," &c. 

 and from Jf. hh-timhi, in the want of the triple series of fuscous 

 erect hair on each elytrum. In its proper season this insect may 

 be found in vast numbers under the deciduous leaves of forests; 

 during the night the millions of wings that fan the air, produce 

 a li)ud humming sound, not unlike that emitted by the enraged 

 occupants of a humble-bee's nest." 

 1825.] 



