478 Coleopterological Notices, V. 



small approximate and mutually everted reflexed and corneous laminje. 

 kjecond secrraent slightly longer than the first, trapezoidal, one-half wider 

 tlian long, the apex broadly sinuate with obtusely rounded angles and two- 

 thirds as wide as the base, the surface not at all foveate at base, broadly, 

 strongly impressed laterally especially toward base, the median parts obtusely 

 but strongly elevated throughout the length, becoming broadly and gradually 

 impressed toward apex thus forming the apical sinuation. The second seg- 

 ment iinly slightly overreaches the third, which is inferior and but slightly 

 modified. Metasternum broadly impressed. Length 1.8 mm. ; width 0.8 mm. 



New York. Mr. W. Jiilich. 



It is almost impossible to describe the extremely complicated 

 modifications on the transverse vertical wall which forms the ape.x 

 of the first segment. This species is allied to wtermedia, differing 

 in the parallel and not oblique elevations of the first segment, the 

 shorter broader and non-foveate second segment and in many other 

 details. 



The species described by me under the name infinita (Bull. Cal. 

 Acad. Sci., II, p. 184), is an altogether different thing from hel- 

 fragH, with which it has been considered synonymous. The dif- 

 ferences can be noted in the following statement drawn from the 

 females of the two species, the original types of each : — 



Distinctly stouter in form ; head much smaller and narrower than the protho- 

 rax, the eyes moderate in size, the tempora strongly convergent behind 

 them to the neck ; prothorax slightly transverse ; subapical dorsal seg- 

 ments of the abdomen inferior and strongly infiexed Iielfragei 



Head very large, fully as wide as the prothorax, the eyes extremely large and 

 prominent, extending to the base ; tempora obsolete ; prothorax much 

 shorter and more transverse ; abdominal segments feebly infiexed near 

 the apex iufinita 



The drawing of belfragei given by Brendel (Bull. Univ. Iowa, 

 PI. IX, f. 57) seems to have been taken from a specimen of infi- 

 nita, and the male sexual modifications are probably of the same 

 general type in both. There can be no doubt that the original 

 series from which ivfiiiita was described, was composed entirely of 

 females, and the differences signaled in the remarks beneath the de- 

 scription, were in some measure due to unconscious injagination 

 while laboring under the impression that there ought at any rate 

 to be one male among fourteen specimens.' 



' A lifetime might well be occupied in simply training the brain to see 

 things as they really are and as revealed to us by the visual images on tlie 

 retina, and the nearest we can ever get to truth is an approximation, depend- 



