324 Journal of Agricultural Research voi. xxii. no. 6 



mentum being more rounded and more deeply impressed; its anterior margin is 

 slightly incised; the lateral angles are so much reflexed as to be invisible; the tarsi 

 are silicate beneath and fringed at the apex and sides with short spines; the middle 

 joints of the posterior tarsi appear more elongated than in Eleodes. I have grave 

 doubt of the generic value of any of these differences, and several nondescript species 

 from New Mexico seem to be intermediate both by the form of the body and by the 

 dififerences in the mentum. 



The characters distinguishing Embaphion contusum from Embaphion 

 muricatum were discussed by LeConte (j) in 1859. A brief resume of the 

 previous history of the genus was made by Lacordaire {4, v. 5, p. 152; 

 atlas, pi. 50, fig. 2) in 1859, in which attention was called to Say's inade- 

 quate designation of the genus Embaphion and to variation of the species 

 with its geographical distribution. Horn (5, p. 320-322) in 1870, in his 

 discussion of the genus, indicated the feeble taxonomic characters which 

 separate this genus from Eleodes. In referring to the species Embaphion 

 muricatum he states : 



This species may be readily distinguished from the others of the genus by the very 

 broad foliaceous margin of the thorax and elytra, very strongly reflexed. The elytral 

 margin extends beyond the apex and the two meet on a line with the suture. The 

 thoracic margin is broad and widens behind, so that the hind angles are prominent, 

 sub-acute, and project backwards over the basal angles of the elytra. The thorax 

 itself (less the margins) is narrow, longer than broad, and about equal to half the width 

 of the elytra (without margin). The disc of elytra (without margin) is elongate oval, 

 the humeral angles not prominent and are rounded. The angles formed by the margin 

 are nearly right. The base of the thorax is strongly trisinuate; the base of the thorax 

 proper being rounded, that of the margin on each side emarginate. The base of elytra 

 is emarginate at middle, and on each side broadly rounded. 



He stated further that Embaphion concavum, described by LeSonte 

 (2) in 1853, is 



merely a large form with more strongly reflexed margins. The elytra of both forms are 

 sculptured with approximate series of fine punctures, each bearing a short hair. 



Blaisdell's (//, p. 473-477) very full discussion (1909) of the adult 

 forms of the species and their taxonomic relationships leaves little to be 

 desired. He especially emphasizes the salient type characters. 



Margins of the thorax and elytra broadly foliaceous and strongly reflexed, basal 

 angles of the prothoracic margins projecting strongly backward over the basal angles 

 of the elytra. 



DISTRIBUTION 



Nebraska: Alliance, altitude 3,971 feet, August, H. F. Wickham; Beaver City, alti- 

 tude 2,150 feet, M. H. Swenk {12), September, J. S. Wade; "Nebraska," May to 

 August, H. F. Wickham (<S). 



New Mexico: Chico, altitude 6,882 feet, September, D. J. Caffrey; Clovis, August, 

 H. F. Wickham; Koehler, altitude 5,500 feet, June, V. L. Wildemiuth, August, 

 W. R. Walton; Vaughn, September, H. F. Wickham; Maxwell, altitude 5,894 feet, 

 D. J. Caffrey; Willard, altitude 6,091 feet, H. F. Wickham. 



Kansas: Clark County, altitude 1,962 feet, June, F. H. Snow {10); Colby, altitude 

 3,150 feet, August, J. S. Wade; Dodge City, altitude 2,509 feet, August, J. S. Wade; 

 Hamilton County, altitude 3,000 feet, F. H. Snow {10); Liberal, altitude 2,839 feet, 





