COLKOPTKRA. 81 



emargination nearly transverse at the bottom, sides abruptly nearly paralU;! ; 

 apical angles acutely rounded ; base very slightly longer than tlie apex, 

 transverse, except through a short space in the middle, where the margin is 

 abruptly and strongly arcuate ; disk feebly convex, rather finely, sparsely, 

 and irregularly jjunctate ; lateral basal canaliculations sinuate, narrow and 

 strong toward the base, and continued posteriorly for a short distance on the 

 elytra, the latter portion being straight and slightly nearer the median line, 

 becoming obsolete anteriorly on the pronotum slightly beyond the middle. 

 Scutellura completely invisible. Elytra at base as wide as the pronotum ; 

 sides parallel for two-thirds the length from the humeri, and moderately 

 arcuate ; disk acutely rounded behind, nearly three-fifths longer than wide, 

 and more than twice as long as the head and pronotum together, widest at 

 two-fifths the length from the base ; disk moderately convex above, strongly 

 and rather abruptly declivous at the sides, strongly, rather coarsely, closely, 

 and evenly punctate ; punctures rounded, without visible arrangement, and 

 finer toward the sides. Abdomen polished, convex, with a few rather large 

 widely scattered punctures near the base ; last three segments very short. 

 Legs slender ; femora and basal half of the tibiae reddish-testaceous, 

 remainder piceous-black ; first joint of the posterior tarsi slightly shorter 

 than the next two together. Length 1.9—2.0 mm. 



California, 2. 



Tins species somewliat resembles ajfftnis, but differs in its much 

 more slender form, and greatly in tlie coloration; the elytral punctua- 

 tion is coarser than in that species. The female is broader and more 

 rectangular in outline than the male, but does not differ in color or 

 punctuation. There is no trace of a raised front margin on the head. 



Although aware of the variations ascril)ed by Dr. Sharp to affinis, 

 I cannot consider this form as one of them, the much narrower shape, 

 denser and coarser punctuation, and relatively longer prothorax 

 abundantly distinguisliing tliem without taking into account the 

 intense blackness of nigrinus. 



HELOPIIORUS Fab. 



H. palleilS n. sp. — Form slender. Color above pale brownish-tlavate, 

 almost without iridescence, except a slight amount on the elevated portions 

 of the pronotum ; head darker ; under surface dark piceous-brown, coxae 

 same, legs pale brownish-flavate, last joint of tarsi darker distally; antennae 

 and palpi pale, the former slightly darker toward tip. Head one-half wider 

 than long, constricted immediately in front of the eyes into a short broad 

 muzzle, very broadly rounded anteriorly, angles narrowly rounded, and sides 

 rather feebly convergent anteriorly; eyes large and prominent; epistomal 

 groove very strong, originating at the anterior extremity of the eyes, broadly 

 angulate posteriorly ; at the angle it is continued to the base by a strongly 

 marked triangular excavation ; clvpeus very large, one-half wider than long, 

 broadly swollen along the middle longitudinally ; surface uneven, a confused 



