364 CASEY 



obtuse, the punctures small, elongate, very close-set, becoming 

 gradually not larger or transversely closer but longitudinally anas- 

 tomosing laterally ; scutellum moderate, transverse ; elytra evi- 

 dently less than one-half longer than vvade, three times as long as 

 the prothorax to materially less and equal in width, the sides very 

 feebly arcuate, the apex somew^hat acutely ogival, the punctures 

 rather small but deep and distinct, not very close-set and uniform 

 in size throughout, generally confused but with ill-defined and in- 

 complete series traceable here and there ; abdomen with rather small 

 but deep, moderately sparse, conspicuous punctures medially. 

 Length 4,8-5.7 mm. ; width 2.0-3.5 mm. Mexico (Chihuahua- 

 near Colonia Garcia, 7,300 feet elevation), — C. H. T. Townsend. 



* sonoricus n. sp. 



Body nearly as in sonoricus but rather less stout and with the elytra 

 much more evidentlv seriate, black or piceous-black, the legs and 

 antennae obscure rufous, moderately shining; head moderate, 

 the sides feebly converging and slightly arcuate, the apex arcuate, 

 the punctures rather fine but deep, elongate and longitudinally sub- 

 coalescent ; prothorax variable, from a little less to obviously more 

 than twice as wide as long, the sides subparallel and strongly, 

 evenly arcuate, sometimes more converging anteriorly from behind 

 the middle — probably in the male, — the hind angles very obtuse 

 but not blunt or prominent, the punctures fine, perforate, very 

 close, becoming but little less fine though longitudinally confluent 

 gradually toward the sides; scutellum variable; elytra scarcely 

 one-half longer than wide, three times as long as the prothorax to 

 obviously less and not at all wider, ogival behind, the sides feebly 

 arcuate, the basal line curving forward moderately toward the 

 humeri, the punctures rather small but deep and conspicuous, 

 only moderately close-set in subeven, unimpressed series, scarcely 

 visibly larger laterally, the intervals with sparse, confused punc- 

 tures, but little smaller than those of the series, rendering the latter 

 less obvious; abdomen finely but strongly, sparsely punctate. 

 Length c;.3-5.4 mm. ; width 3.2-2.3 ^''^ii''' Arizona (Fort 

 Apache) nuperus n. sp. 



As remarked by Mr. Champion of Mcsabates, many of the spe- 

 cies of Melanasttis grediily resemble Blapstimis in general facies, 

 being more elongate, narrower and less convex than in Stcri- 

 phantis. The species appear to be satisfactorily differentiated, 

 but the series of specimens representing sonoricus and nufcriis 

 in my cabinet are rather puzzling ; the description relates to 

 normal and fully formed individuals but, in several of the former 

 species, the punctures toward the sides of the prothorax are 

 notably less crowded ; in one specimen of each species the pro- 

 thorax is widest near the base ; in another, of sonoriciis^ the 



