DESCRIPTION OF A NEW CYCHRUS. 



BY J. J. RIVERS. 



C. fuchsianus Rivers.— Form and general aspect of a large ventricosiis. 

 Piceous black, moderately shining. Head moderately elongate, more or less 

 transversely wrinkled, a slight impression at middle of clypeal margin, lateral 

 ridge of gence rather deeply notched. Thorax cordate, or little wider than 

 long, deeply sinuate posteriorly, hind angles rectangular, median line distincty 

 impressed, apical impression moderate, basal transverse impression deep, 

 longitudinal impressions feeble, surface finely transversely wrinkled. Elytra 

 oval, more broadly in the female, striate, striae closely punctured, the alter- 

 nate intervals wider and with punctures as coarse as the strice, intermediate 

 intervals impunctate, inflexed portion o^ elytra rather coarsely, not deeply 

 punctured. Body beneath smooth, shining. Length .85— i.oo inch. ; 21.5 — 

 25 inch. 



The male has the first three joints of the anterior tarsi papillose 

 beneath as usual in the ventricosus group. 



Closely related to ventricosus. but differs in the elytral sculpture. 

 The intervals in the latter species are equal and smooth ; in this new 

 species are alternately wider, and the wide intervals are alone punc- 

 tate. At the sides the striae are so confused in the present species 

 as to render it impossible to count those on the outer third, while in 

 ventricosus the strife may be easily enumerated. 



For some years I have had the 9 of this insect in my- collec- 

 tion as an undescribed species, but thought it allied to striatopunc- 

 tatus by the alternating of the punctured intervals, but Mr. Charles 

 Fuchs having recently received three examples from Sonoma County, 

 two of which are males, I have been enabled to find its true position. 

 With the aid of Horn's* "Synopsis of the species of Cychrus in- 

 habiting Boreal America," it is evident, by the three papillose tarsal 

 joints that it belongs to the subgenus Brennus of Mots. , and should 

 be placed next after C. ventricosus Dej., as the two forms have many 

 characters in common. 



Occurs in Eldorado and Sonoma Counties, Cal. 



The above description having been sent me by Mr. Rivers for 

 publication, I avail myself of the opportunity to make known a 

 second species. Geo. H. Horn, M. D. 



C. merkelii Horn. — Form and general appearance oi caiiadetisis, piceous- 

 black shining, elytra with distinct cupreo-violaceous lustre. Head and thorax 

 smooth, the latter cordate, a little broader than long, sides arcuate in front, 

 oblique posteriorly, hind angles very obtuse, disc slightly convex, apical trans- 

 verse impression faint, median line deeply impressed between the apical and 



* Trans. Anier. Ent. Soc. \'II, Dec&mber, 187S. 



