June iSgg] CaSEY : On AMERICAN CoCCINELLID^. 129 



In the above arrangement it is evident that the species from montan- 

 ica to IcBvipennis are close derivatives of the lateralis type, that those 

 from tceniata to inflexa are close, and those from elliptica to stibdepressa, 

 but slightly less close, derivatives of \h^ fimbriolata type, and further, 

 that those from disconotata\.o paludicola, and then from ««;/^xa to simu- 

 lans, are also more or less closely related to the same type. Most of the 

 others are rather isolated in relationship, except, perhaps, signata and 

 binotata, which may possibly be varietal forms of one type, but I have 

 no evidence to prove this and have never seen a series from any one 

 locality which contained the two forms intermingled. There is before 

 me a large series of binotata collected in Indiana, not one of which 

 has a vestige of the subapical spot, and my only representative of 

 signata was taken in a wholly different region. 



Although it is possible that many of the forms in the table above 

 may prove to be more properly subspecies of a i&w type forms, which 

 could only be definitely determined by future collecting and careful 

 investigation, they are at least apparently worthy of distinctive names 

 for future reference, and that is all that can be positively affirmed at 

 present ; anything else would, in the absence of evidence, be mere 

 speculation and individual opinion. The genus is an extremely diffi- 

 cult one so far as the differentiation of species is concerned. 

 Helesius, gen. nov. 



The two species for which this generic group seems to be desirable, 

 differ from Hyperaspis in having the anterior tibiae thickened externally, 

 and in having a suffused coloration, devoid of any trace of the abruptly 

 defined pale areas of that genus. They may be defined as follows : — 



Form oval, strongly convex, moderately shining, the head and prothorax rufo-piceous, 

 the latter gradually black toward the middle, finely but distinctly, rather closely 

 punctulate, more closely so toward the sides, the length at the middle nearly one- 

 half greater than at the sides, the base evenly rounded in circular arc ; elytra barely 

 as long as wide, the sides continuous with those of the prothorax, evenly rounded 

 behind, very minutely, sparsely and obsoletely punctulate, black throughout ; 

 under surface piceous, the legs rufo-piceous. Length 2.7 mm.; width 1.8 mm. 

 Texas (Brownsville) — Mr, Wickham nubilans, sp. nov. 



Form oblong-oval and less convex, shining, the pronotum alutaceous in one sex, the 

 head and prothorax rufous, the latter minutely punctulate, more strongly and 

 closely toward the sides, the latter nearly three-fourths as long as the median 

 length, the base broadly rounded or subparabolic ; elytra longer than wide, the 

 sides feebly arcuate, the base not quite as wide as the base of the prothorax, the 

 apex very obtusely rounded, black or paler, minutely and sparsely but distinctly 

 punctulate; under surface and legs pale. Length 2.3 mm. ; width 1.4 mm. 

 Colorado (Florissant) nigripennis Lee. 



