266 COLEOPTEllA OF NORTH AMERICA. 



Sub-Family II.— SPONDYLINiE. 



Body elongate, rather convex and robust, punctured, opaque or 

 nearly so ; head large, eyes transverse, not convex, rather finely 

 granulate, feebly emarginate. Antennae short or extending be- 

 yond the base of the prothorax, inserted under slight prominences 

 in front of the eyes, near the base of the mandibles; 1st joint 

 oval, stout, a little longer than the 3d; 2d about half as long as 

 3d, or"(Scaphinus) nearly as long; remaining joints equal, trans- 

 verse (Scaphinus), or ovai (Spondylis), each with two foveae on 

 the under surface, which in the former are very large and deep, 

 in the latter small and near the apex; 11th joint pointed at tip. 

 Labrum small, separate. Mandibles long, slender, not toothed : 

 palpi long, not dilated, last joint oval, truncate ; mentum very 

 transverse, buccal fissures wide, filled by the base of the max- 

 illae ; ligula very large, corneous, concave, emarginate in front, 

 with broadly-rounded lobes; labial palpi distant, situated on the 

 inferior surface, but remote from the sides. Maxilla? with very 

 small slender lobes. Prothorax oval, convex, narrowed behind, 

 not margined ; raesonotnm polished, sparsely punctured, without 

 stridulating plate, broadly channelled, distinctly separated from 

 the scutellum by a transverse excavation. Elytra parallel, 

 rounded at tip, epipleurte narrow, not extending to the suture ; 

 wings perfect. 



Prosternum distinct between the coxae, which are subconical, 

 somewhat prominent, angulated externally, and inclosed behind ; 

 middle coxae oval, cavities widely open externally, with distinct 

 trochantin, mesosternum triangular, slightly truncate at tip; epi- 

 sterna of metathorax rather wide, narrowed behind, hind coxae 

 large, extending to the side of the abdomen, prominent in Sca- 

 phinus, but not in Spondylis. Yentral segments 5, equal, similar 

 in both sexes, intercoxal proQess acute. 



Legs rather short, much stouter in Scaphinus than in Spon- 

 dylis; thighs thick, compressed; tibiae compressed, finely serrate, 

 outer angle prolonged into a flange much more developed in Sca- 

 phinus; spurs well developed, unequal on the front pair, obtuse 

 and broad on the hind feet. Tarsi short without brush of hairs 

 beneath, though hairy in Spondylis; 8d joint emarginate; 4th 

 small, but distinct; 5th long, with slender, rather large claws, 

 and a very small bisetose onychium. 



