Coleopterological Notices, III. 41 



OPIIISTO»IIS Thorns. 



The species recently described by Bates (Biol. Cent.-Amer. Col., 

 Y, p. 39) as leevicollis is represented before me by three specimens, 

 perfectly homogeneous as regards color, and belonging to the variety 

 designated " 6" (1. c, page 279). These specimens were formerly 

 included in the Levette cabinet, and are labeled "Arizona." This 

 is therefore one of those tropical species of exceptionally extended 

 northern distribution, of which Xystropus caHfornicus Horn, is 

 another notable example. 



The elytra in 0. laevicoUis are obliquely and rather widely trun- 

 cate at apex, the line of truncation straight and the outer angle very 

 acute but not appreciably produced. The elytral punctuation varies 

 considerably in density, but is generally finer and confused toward 

 apex and very coarse and sublineate in distribution toward base. 

 The humeri in the specimens alluded to are clouded with reddish- 

 testaceous. The intermediate tibiae are quite distinctly clavate.^ 



LEPTURA Serv. 



A specimen of nigi^ella Say, from Colorado, before me, has the 

 elytra bright red throughout, with the exception of a narrow and 

 even black marginal vitta in apical third. 



The three following species appear to be new: — 



Li. serpentina n. sp. — Rather slender and convex, feebly shining, 

 black throughout, the legs and antenna generally pale ; pronotum with the 

 apical and basal margins bright sulphureo-pubescent ; elytra each with four 

 transverse bands of the same color, one at the base just behind the scutellum 

 narrowly interrupted at the suture, the second just before the middle, third 

 at posterior third, and the fourth near the apex ; under surface clothed with 

 yellow pubescence, the abdominal segments more distinctly so near the apex 



1 Some time after the above paragraphs were written, I sent one of these 

 specimens to Mr. Bates, and take the liberty of quoting the following lines 

 from the very courteous letter recently received in reply : — 



" I have examined your Ophistomis, supposed to be from Arizona, and find 

 it cannot be specifically distinguished from 0. hevicoUis. The punctuation is 

 a little more sparse, but a rather more important diflference is the relative 

 greater length of the elytra, and the shorter outer acute angle of the trunca- 

 ture. I do not consider these differences specific, but note them only as some 

 evidence that the specimen comes from a different locality from those recorded 

 in the Biologia, i. c, Oaxaca to Panama." 



Annals N. Y. Acad. Sci., VI, Nov. 1891. — 4 



