NORTH OF MEXICO. 30] 



either strictlj nocturnal in their habits or arc found walking in sandy places either in 

 earl) morning or late in the day, and during cloud) days. The larger and inure cylindri- 

 cal of our species will, when disturbe 1. place their bodies nearl) vertically, the head near 

 the ground and the tuil erect, and will emit when handled a dark oleaginous offensive 

 fluid, staining the hands brownish and remaining for a long time and apparentl) fixed by 

 the action of alkaline material. In the warm regions ol California the larger species at- 

 tain the age of several years. Their tenacity of life is very great, as specimens have bi > 

 kept pinned for two months without fund or water. 

 ( )nr genera are three in number. 



Epipleurse broader at base, attaining the humeri. 



Mentum trilobed, lateral lobes v or less indexed. i 1 i ■ 



Mi niiim flat, discoidal. m- j.m \. 



Epipleurse narrow .n base, not attaining tin- humeri. 



Mentum trilobed, lateral lobes indexed. bmbaphiok. 



ELEODES, Esch. 



I'.i i 0D1 -. Esi ll., /. > •!. \tl. III., p. - 



Xyst v. Esch., ut mi]. i i 



Pbomi -. Lee., Class. Col. N. A., p. 



Species have been described by Say as Blaps, by ECirby as Pimelia. 



Mentum somewhat variable in form, usually trilobed, the middle lobe larger and more 

 convex ; lateral lobes frequently inflexed, scarcely visible. Last joint of labial palpi trian- 

 gular, narrower than the maxillary, which are broadly triangular or securiform. Head 

 'mi deeplj inserted, suture between epistoma and front frequentl) distinct, epistoma trun- 

 or feeblj emarginate, sides sometimes sinuate. Eyes narrow sub-reniform. Antennae 

 eleven-jointed, the last three or four usually notably depressed, the last joint, frequently 

 though not always smaller than the preceding. 



Prothorax variable in form, usually applied against bases of the elytra. Scutellum 

 always distinct and equilateral. Elytra of variable form and sculpture, in manj species 

 prolonged behind. Epipleurae always distinct, broader at base and always visible at the 

 humeral angle, graduall) narrowing toward the apex. Legs moderately long. Femora 

 never strongly clavate, the anterior frequently armed in the male, sometimes in both 

 sexes, with a tooth of variable form, rarely all the femora toothed. Tarsi usually chan- 

 nelled and setose beneath ; occasionally the firsl two joints are dilated and spongy pubes- 

 cent, or not dilated and denselj covered with silken hairs. 



The characters above given are those applicable to the whole genus, characters pe< u- 

 liar to any group will be given under its heading or in the remarks on the various specii s. 



The genus Elcodes is our Largest and. with the exception of \-ida. a- previouslj de- 

 fined, the mosl polymorphous, and i- without doubt tin' mosl difficult to sub-divide of an) 



AMERI. PH1L080. SOC. —VOL. XIV. — 7''. 



