388 Coleopterological Notices. 



one of the derivatives of the ancient type of ovalis, which inhabits 

 nearly the same region. The unique type exhibits decided traces 

 of a number of feeble approximate elytra! ridges similar to those 

 of puncticollis. The elytra become strongly alutaceous and rather 

 coarsely creased toward apex, and the very feeble undulating in- 

 equality of the surface, which could scarcely be called rugulosity. is 

 not caused by partial coalescence of the punctures. In ovalis the 

 elytra are polished throughout, very coarsely, deeply punctate, the 

 punctures not becoming finer toward apex, where they are con- 

 fusedly coalescent causing a strongly marked rugulosity. 



COKIOXTELLUS n . gen. (Coniontini). 



The species described by LeConte as Coniontis obesa, differs 

 structurally from the normal members of that genus in having the 

 eyes completely divided. If this were the only difference which 

 could be perceived, we might perhaps be warranted in considering 

 obesus and its allies as a mere section of Coniontis, but as this struc- 

 tural peculiarity is supplemented by several other characters, I have 

 deemed it more proper to separate the species mentioned under 

 another name. 



Coniontellus differs from Coniontis in having the eyes completely 

 divided, the antenna? shorter, more slender, with a much greater 

 development of the second joint and a wider eleventh joint, and in 

 the form of the anterior tibiae, these being broader, shorter, more 

 strongly compressed and triangular. 



The genus is peculiar to the high arid mountainous table lands 

 and valleys of the Rocky Mountain system, and does not extend 

 westward beyond the Sierras. The species are all small and are 

 apparently much less numerous than those of Coniontis, those 

 which are known to me may be distinguished as follows: — 



Seta? of the elytra longer erect and distinct; pronotal punctures very coarse, 

 with but little tendency to longitudinal coalescence. 

 Elytral seta? long and conspicuous, coarse and fulvous, nearly as long as the 

 third joint of the posterior tarsus; body more robust, the elytra always 



rather strongly inflated behind ; scutellum very small ill flat US 



Elytral seta? shorter, finer and sparser, not more than one-half as long as 

 the third joint of the posterior tarsus ; body less robust and more 



parallel ; scutellum rather large obesus 



Seta? of the elytra very short, robust and pointed, recumbent and not project- 

 ing distinctly beyond the confines of the punctures ; pronotal punctures 

 finer, denser and more longitudinally coalescent Sllbglaber 



