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Pleocoma, Lee., its systematic position and indication 

 of new species. 



By George H. Horn, M. D. 



The article on Pleocoma by Dr. Gerstaecker, published in the Stet- 

 tiner Zeitung. for 1883, has been well known to me, not only in the 

 original but also in the translation prepared by Mr. John B. Smith. 



The volume containing the article did not reach me until the early 

 part of 1884, at a time when I was busily occupied with other matters, 

 to which were superadded the unfinished scientific affairs of our lamented 

 Leconte. 



The opportunity having occured for presenting to the English 

 speaking public the translation above referred to I have carefully studied 

 all the material accessible to me and prepared necessary dissections and 

 drawings which will in due time appear in the Transactions of the 

 American Entomological Society. 



At present I propose to give in brief the results of my studies, so 

 that Gerstaecker's article and my own may be read almost together. 



As Dr. Gerstaecker gives a resume of the articles written by Leconte 

 I will not recapitulate. It is true as Gerstaecker states that Become 

 modified his views somewhat from the first description to 1861, from 

 which time there has been no change. This, however, is but the evolu- 

 tion of opinion based on the gradual arrival of better material. That 

 Leconte came so near the truth in his first essay with such a wretched 

 specimen is one of the best evidences of his clear insight. 



When specimens with the necessary parts came and were studied, 

 the characters fundamentally important in classification were observed 

 and we see in the "Classification" of 1861 that Pleocoma takes its place 

 among the Laparostict Lamellicoms, and the tribe instituted to receive it 

 placed near the Geotrupini. 



The "Classification " of 1883 appeared with Pleocoma in the same 

 position and the space devoted to it much greater, from the more numer- 

 ous details. Had Dr. Gerstaecker seen this volume he might have used 

 a little more precaution before commiting himself to an opinion, or rather 

 making the positive statement, so often repeated in his article as to have 

 no doubt as to his full meaning. 



The question involved in the controversy is one of fact- is Pleocoma 

 a Pleurostict or Laparostict Lamellicorn ? Dr. Gerstaecker asserts that 

 he has examined the stigmata and finds them exactly as in Melolontha, 



