436 Coleopteroloijical Xoticcs, VI. 



logic deduces the laws of planetary motion, or who. by patient 

 and careful weighing discovers a hitherto unknown constituent of 

 our atmosphere. These fields of scientific enijuiry are all parts of 

 one grand cosmos, and I cannot conceive one of tiiem to be more 

 soul-inspiring than another; they are all equally wonderful, 

 equally beautiful, and equally beyond the ken of Unite intellect. 

 XoKKOLK, Va., May l^*, 1H95. 



STAPIIYLINID.E. 

 C'OXOSOMA Kraatz. 



This genus is represented in America l)y numerous species, 

 which, because of their comparatively constant and monotonous 

 facies, have gained the reputation of being a difficult lot to deal 

 with systematicalh- ; but this is by no means the case in reality. 

 There are several sclerites which are sutiiciently diversified to 

 afford most satisfactory taxonomic elements, and in fact the 

 species can be separated into two almost equal divisions, based 

 upon radically different types of epijileural structure Avhich can 

 be recognized upon mere cursory examination. The extent of 

 development of the long erect tactile seti\} of the al)domen, an- 

 tennal structure, sculpture of the elytra and ventral characters of 

 the male can also be employed advantageously in classification, 

 as these all difi!^er in a marked and sufficiently constant degree 

 among the various species ; the difference in elytral sculpture be- 

 tween lowxi, bipustulata and parvula, for example, is very pro- 

 nounced. In some cases I have resorted to peculiarities of color- 

 ation for the principal difl^'erential character of the species. 



In the following table I have been compelled to add a number 

 of new species to those already known, and to correct some very 

 inaccurate and misleading synonymv which has been allowed to 

 stand in our recent lists : — 



I. Epipleuni' broader, siililioiizontal, iniliesceiit, impressed toward hase, birt 

 witli the outer inarjiin only descendinu slightly below the inner. 

 Pronotuni abruptly pale in color in bas;il half, the elytra pale but blackish 



laterally and toward a]>ex 1- kiioxi 



Pronotuni unicolorous or only feebly and sutYusedly i>ale t(n\ard l)ase. 

 Elytra each with a larjie, obliquely oval pale spot at base. . ."2. littorea 

 Elytra unicolorous or sufl'usedly pale at Ijase throiTghout the ^\idth. 

 r.odv blackish in color, tlie elvtra rufous at base 3. opica 



