March, 1896.] WiCKHAM, COLEOPTERA OF N. E. AMERICA. 



33 



PRELIMINARY HANDBOOK OF THE COLEOPTERA 

 OF NORTHEASTERN AMERICA. 



By H. F. Wickham. 



(Continued from Vol. Ill, p. IQO-) 



Amara Bon. 

 This genus includes those Pterostichini in which the terminal joint 

 of the palpi is not dilated, the labial with the penultimate joint plunse- 

 tose in front and longer than the last one. The elytra are without the 

 dorsal puncture. The genus is of great size and offers considerable 

 diversity of form, some of the species resembling Pierostichus or Har- 

 palus, while the majority have a fades which is unmistakeable. The 

 form of the thorax has served a good purpose in the primary separation 

 into groups, after which secondary sexual characters must be largely 

 relied upon. By the kind permission of Dr. Horn, his synopses and 

 descriptions have been used in this paper (almost without change except 

 in the way of condensation) for those portions of the genus on which 

 he has written. The first part, the subgenus Lirus, has been largely 

 taken from the descriptions of Dr. LeConte, who, however, had not 

 tabulated the species. No attempt has been made to disturb the exist- 

 ing status of species, the idea being simply to give a clue to the iden 1- 

 fication as they now rest. A careful revision of the forms with sub- 

 cordiform thorax is a desideratum but must be left to those who have 

 access to types. 



Synopsis of Species. 

 :. Thorax broader in front of the base, narrowed posteriorly and usually more or 



Th:::::^;:::a-;.;;;^riy:b;;;d-^:;d;;h;b;s;-;;;^^^^^ 



rowed in that part 



2 Posterior tibis not pilose internally in either sex i^ 



Posterior tibiae of male densely pilose internally • ^ 



3. Middle tibiae simple in both sexes ^ 



Middle tibiae of male bidentate internally 



4. Hind angles of prothorax not carinate sVmilVs. 



Hind angles of thorax with distinct carina 



% 



