_3i — 



R. taeniatum Le. . Proc. Ac. Phii. VII, 1851, p.8i. 

 L-ength 20—25 "^'"- =.So— i.oo inch. Hab. Texas. 



A veiv distinct species, intermediating somewhat in appearance be- 

 tween this -.111(1 the tuliowing genus. 



ELAPHIDION, Serv. 



In this genus the metathoracic episterna are scarcely wider in front 

 than behind. 'I'he prothorax in sculpture and form and the spines of 

 thighs, elytra and antennae vary in every conceivable degree and are the 

 basis upon which most of the numerous species have been erected. In 

 general the species o^ EiiphMon are more slender and smaller than those 

 iii Romaleum. The species require renewed and careful study, which 

 can only he made however, with Dr. T.econte's types at hand for com- 

 j)arison. 



SYNOPSIS OF ELAPHIDION. 



A. — Antennx and elytra with very long spine.s; thigh.s spino.se at tip; prothorax per- 

 pendicular behind, mesosternum gibbous; prothorax ^ O similar with several 

 callosities; 

 Antennoe rj' longer than the body; 



Above glabrous, with patches of white hair irroratum. 



Above clothed irregularly with gray pubescence mucronatum. 



Antennte rf not longer than the body; 



Uniformly pube.scent, scarcely mottled on the elytra tectum. 



B. — Antenna! spines small; elytra rounded at tip, sutural spine distinct; prothorax 

 broadly rounded at sides, coarsely and deeply punctured with three narrow 

 smooth spaces; 



Rather slender, piceous, thinly clothed with long flying hairs alienum. 



C. — Antennal spines small; prosternum rounded behind, mesosternum obliquely decli- 

 vous; thighs not spinose at tip; prothorax (^ finely, 9 more coarsely punctured; 

 (scent pores indistinct in a, b, or very obvious c, or wanting d); 

 a. — Prothorax rounded on the sides with several dorsal callosities, elytra truncate 

 and strongly bispinose at tip; 



Pubescence grayish brown, mottled incertum. 



b. — Prothorax feebly rounded on the sides, elytra uni- or not spinose at tip, pubes- 

 cence grayish brown, mottled; 

 Thorax with a medial smooth space, and no dorsal callosities; tip of elytra trunc 



ale inwards, not spinose. inerme. 



Thorax with a medial smooth space and two small discoidal callosities; tip of 



elytra subtruncate, sutural spine distinct truncatum. 



Thorax more rounded on the sides, dorsal space coarsely punctured; tip of elytra 



rounded, suture not spinose spurcum. 



<•. —Prothorax scarcely rounded on the sides, nearly cylindrical (except in pumilum); 

 elytra bi.spinose; 

 Pubescence mottled, flying hairs not very obvious; elytra! spines long; legs den- 

 sely punctured and pubescent; 



