10 



LE CONTE (J. L.) 



In the Proc. Acad. Nat. Sciences, Piiilad. vol. vi. p. 142 et seq. (1852), Dr. Le Conte 

 described many new species of Corytophidtr, and one new genus, Wiyjntbius : he also 

 proposed the term Sacium for the genus previously known as Clijpeaster, a name which 

 had been already used to designate a genus of Echinoderms. In this paper he adopts 

 Micnts/ilitiiii, Redt., in the place of Oitliu/ifiiis, Steph. ; but seems afterwards to have 

 changed his mind, for in his later works he again uses Ortluipenis for that genus ; in so 

 doing he appears to have acted judiciously, for, although he accuses Stephens of having 

 inacouraioly described the antenmi? of his genus, yet immediately after he blames 

 Hodtfiiimcher for a very similar fault, and. when errors are mutual, it is certainly 

 preferable to retain the name originally given. 



Dr. Le Conte's descriptions are good and characteristic, and easily recognized ; some 

 of them I have transcribed below, as I have been unable to obtain any authentic types of 

 those species ; but the rest I have myself described in the present work from specimens 

 kindly presented by Dr. Horn and otiiers. 



The following new species are here described bj' Dr. Le Conte, riz. : — 



Sacium lugubre. Sericoderus obscurus. 



,, obscurum. ., flavidus. 



,, amabile. ,, subtilis. 



,, lepidum. Corylophus marginicoUis. 



,, lunatum. ., truncatus. 



,, decolor. Rhypobius, iren. nov. 



misellum. ,, marinus. 



scitulum. Orthop. (Microsphaerai glabra. 



" Sacium obscurum. — Elongato-ellipticuiu. dense subtiliter puoescens, atrum, 

 thorace antice utrinque testaceo, elytris dense subtiliter puuctatis, Long. -08. North 

 shore of Lake Superior, two specimens. This is very similar to .?. liujubre, but the elytra 

 are much more finely punctured." 



" Sacium amabile. — Elongato-ellipticum, thorace testaceo medio nigro, elytris 

 subtiliter puiictiilatis, piceis, macula basali, altera ad medium, apicibusque testaceis, 

 pedibus flavis. Long. -OT-'OG. Junction of the Colorado and Gila rivers. — Similar in 

 form to .S'. obscurum, clothed with fine prostrate hairs; head yellow, thorax semi-elliptical, 

 a little longer than wide, sinuate at the base, moderately margined on the sides, testaceous 

 with a black vitta reaching from the apex almost to the base ; elytra scarcely wider than 

 the thorax, broadly subtruucate at the apex, finely punctulate, black with a spot at the 

 base, another transverse one just behind the middle, and the apex testaceous ; suture not 

 elevated. Beneath black, feet yellow." 



Sacium decolor. — Ellipiicuic, rufo-piceurn, subtiliter pubescens, thorace pallidiori, 

 medio obscuro, elytris subtiliter punctubitis, pedibus flavis. Long. '03. Two specimens, 

 San .Jose, California. — Elliptical, rufo-piceous, finely pubescent, thorax paler, diaphanous 

 at the sides, dark in the middle, almost semicircular, slightly sinuatcd at the base, elytra 

 very finely punctulate, rounded at the apex ; body beneath piceous, abdomen paler, feet 

 yellowish. 



Sacium scitulum. — Late ellipticum, nigrum, subtilissime pubescens, thorace flavo. 

 puucto antico obscuro, elytris subtiliter puuctulatis, fascia postica lata, margine apicali 

 pedibusque flavis. Long. -025. Colorado Kiver, California. — Smaller than the others, 

 and more broadly oval, very finely pubescent. Tliorax semicircular, with a dark spot near 

 the anterior margin. Elytra black, very finely punctulate, with a broad testaceous fascia 

 behind the middle, scarcely reaching the sides, apex rounded, narrowly margined with 

 yellow. P.ody beneath black ; abdomen testaceous, feet yellow. 



Sericoderus flavidus. — Flavo-testaceus, flavo-pubesceus, thorace macula antica 

 obscura notato, basi late sinuato, elytris subtilissime punctulatis. Long. -03. New York 

 and Lake Superior. — Ovate, one-half longer than wide, uniformly yellowish testaceous, 

 densely pubescent. Thorax semicircular, margnied, with a fuscous spot at the apex ; base 

 broadly rounded in the middle, sinuate each side, posterior angles moderately produced. 

 Elytra very finely and densely punctulate, very slightly narrowed to the apex, which is 

 broadly truncate. Pectus dusky. 



[I find a note among the MSS. that this is identical with .*?. hitfinlis. — Ed.] 



