90 Coleopterological Notices. 



In the creneral classification of the g-cncra I have departed from 

 the original Erichsonian system, based upon the relative length of 

 the anterior and posterior tarsi and visibility of the terminal spurs, 

 and have taken as the most important characters in the primary 

 grouping, the structure of the eye and tibial spurs, the mode of 

 antennal insertion, and the size of the scutellum. In the Olibri 

 the point of antennal insertion is exposed from above, the large 

 irregular pit or fovea in front of the under part of the eye being 

 very shallow, because of the deep sinuation of the sides of the 

 epistoma. In all the genera of this group there is visible, just 

 above the point of insertion and immediately under the extreme 

 upper edge of the epistoma, a round flattened chitinous tubercle, 

 apparently entirely filling a deep fovea ; this is very constant in all 

 the genera, but its significance cannot be determined. 



The variation in the form of the trophi in passing from one genus 

 to another, appears to be of so little importance in comparison to 

 the sternal and tarsal structure, that but slight use has been made 

 of these parts, and they have been totally disregarded in the scheme 

 of arrangement here proposed. They are, however, of somewhat 

 greater moment in the Litochride genera, as will appear below. 



In the following table I have included all the described genera, 

 indicating those which do not occur within the faunal limits of the 

 United States by an asterisk.^ The genus Augasmus Mots, is 

 said by Tournier to be identical with Phalacrus, and the recently 

 described Olibrosoma of Tournier, seems to be so aberrant in its 

 five-jointed antennal club, that I think it would be better to exclude 

 it from the family as at present organized ; it may possibly find a 

 more fitting place in the Silphidos. With these exceptions, there- 

 fore, the family is found to consist of three groups of genera which 

 may be defined as follows : — 



Eyes of dual structure, the upper portion finely faceted, the lower coarsely 

 so ; spurs of posterior tibiae strongly dilated. 

 Antenuffi exposed at base, the epistoma projecting and trapezoidal ; scutel- 

 lum small or moderate ; elytra striate throughout the width Tolyphi 



Eyes normal, coarsely faceted throughout ; spurs of posterior tibiae not at all 

 dilated. 

 Antenna inserted under the sides of the front, the base entirely concealed 



1 Through the generosity of Dr. Sharp, I have been able to study all of the 

 Central American genera recognized by this distinguished author, and recently 

 published in the Biologia Centrali-Americana. 



