AMERICAN COLEOPTERA. 247 



SPII/ERITES Duft. 

 Head oval, not narrowed behind the eyes but narrowed in front and slightly 

 prolonged. Eyes round, not prominent. Labrum broadly einarginate. Antennae 

 short, barely attaining the middle of the thorax, subgeniculate, free at base, no 

 frontal margin, first joint rather short, thick, slightly arcuate, second ovate, 

 third slender a little longer than the second, 4 — 8 small, gradually broader, 

 9 — 11 forming an abrupt, pubescent mass. Last joint of maxillary palpi oblong, 

 equal to the t\7o preceding together. Anterior coxse with large troehantin, 

 the cavities open behind, partially enclosed by a slender prolongation of the 

 epimera. Middle coxse moderately sei>arated, posterior coxae contiguous. Legs 

 moderate in length, the tibiae finely spinulose on the outer edge, the spurs 

 moderate. Tarsi slender, joints 1 — 4 gradually decreasing in length, fifth as 

 long as the preceding three. Thorax eraarginate in front, bisinuate at base, 

 fitting against the base of the elytra, the latter truncate at tip exposing the 

 jiygidium. Abdomen of five segments, the fifth a little longer. Body winged. 



This genus has so completely the characters of the present tribe 

 that I do not feel warranted in separating it on the number of the 

 abdominal segments, more particularly as the sixth segment shows a 

 marked tendency to disappear gradually as we follow the genera from 

 Necrophorus to Afjijrtes. Sphserites combines the peculiarities of 

 JVecrophorufi and Affj/rfes completing the circle of the table. It has 

 Histeride resemblances but there is no closer relationship. 



S. glabratus Fab. {Ilister). — Form nearly square or slightly oblong, 

 piceous, surface with aeneous or bluish lustre. Head sparsely punctate. Thorax 

 twice as wide as long, sides gradually arcuately narrowing to the front, apex 

 emarginate, base broadly lobed at middle, hind angles rectangular, disc very 

 sparsely finely punctuiate, sides more distinctly punctured with a moderately 

 deep marginal stria. Elytra as wide as the thorax, very little longer than wide, 

 sides feebly arcuate, apices truncate, disc moderately convex with nine rows of 

 moderate punctures. Pygidium with coarse and fine punctures intermixed. 

 Body beneath black, sparsely punctate. Length .18 — .22 inch; 4.5 — 5.5 mm. 

 (PI. V, fig. 10). 



In the male the middle tibiae are more arcuate than the female, 

 and the posterior trochanter slightly prolonged and spiniform. 



This species occurs in northern Europe, and in our own country 

 from Alaska to California. 



Tribe II, — LyrosominL 



Anterior coxae conical, prominent, contiguous, with a large trochantin, the 

 cavities strongly angulate externally and open behind. Middle coxae nar- 

 rowly separated, posterior coxae separated by an intercoxal process of the 

 abdomen. Abdomen with five segments. Antennae inserted under a frontal 

 margin, eyes not prominent. 



This tribe is distinguished from the Silphini by the separation of 

 the posterior coxae and from all except Sphserites by the abdomen with 

 five segments. It seems to occupy an intermediate position between 

 the Silphini and the elongate Cholevini. One genus only is known. 



