84 Journal New York Entomological Society. [Vol. vi. 



reason, as it is in no way related to that genus, and the Cis dichrous, of 

 that list, is a manuscript name, appearing only in the LeConte list of 

 Coleoptera. Hirsuia and itrsulina are remarkable in having long fine 

 and bristling pubescence. Hystricula seems to have the elytral bristles 

 vaguely inclined to serial arrangement, and it is undoubtedly more 

 closely allied to mormonica than to the three species immediately fol- 

 lowing it in the table. The Alaskan Cis ephippiatus, of Mannerheim, 

 (Bull. Mosc, 1853, p. 234), is omitted from our lists. It is unknown to 

 me, but seems to be peculiar in having the elytra profoundly and re- 

 motely, subseriately punctate, red, with a large common transverse 

 black spot at the middle, which attains the margin at each side. 



Orthocis, gen. nov. 



This genus is very closely allied to Cis, but differs in the more 

 parallel form of the body, in its glabrous surface, margined elytral 

 suture and absolutely simple apex of the anterior tibiae. The maxillary 

 palpi are rather stout, the ligula large and corneous, the antennae long, 

 with the two basal joints of the funicle elongate and the club rather 

 small and loose. The head and clypeus are absolutely simple in the 

 male, and the only visible male sexual character is a small oval opaque 

 and densely pubescent area at the centre of the first ventral segment, at 

 the point occupied by a deep circular fovea in some species of Cis. 

 Our two species greatly resemble each other but may be distinguished 

 as follows : — 



Ligula broader and flat ; third antennal joint nearly or quite as long as the next two 

 combined ; body rather less elongate, the sides of the prothorax somewhat less 

 rectilinear, otherwise similar to the followirg. New York . . . .punctata Nell. 



Ligula narrow and convex ; third antennal joint distinctly shorter than the nexj two 

 combined. Male. — Oblong, parallel, moderately convex, polished, black, the 

 legs and antennae rufous, glabrous, each puncture of the elytra with a very minute 

 simple silvery hair ; head well developed, convex, the eyes small and prominent ; 

 clypeal margin perfectly simple, evenly arcuate from side to side ; prothorax two- 

 fifths wider than long, the sides parallel and straight, rather widely reflexed ; 

 apex broadly arcuate and slightly advanced ; angles obtuse ; base finely margined ; 

 punctures rather fine but deep, well separated; elytra two thirds longer than 

 wide, rather wider than the prothorax and nearly two and one-half times as 

 long, obtusely ogival at apex, the sides very feebly arcuate ; punctures confusedly 

 arranged, rather small but deep and somewhat sparse, the surface smooth ; ely- 

 tral suture margined toward tip. Length 2.3-2.5 mm. ; width 0.85 mm. Cali- 

 fornia (Alameda Co.) aterrima, sp. nov. 



