306 CURGULIOXID.E. 



[LeContc, 



One specimen, collected by me near the Rocky Mountains. The scales 

 are partly abraded; on the elytra they remain only at the base and near the 

 extremity of the fourth to the seventh interspaces. 



CENTRINUS Sch. 



After separating a certain number of species, which seem to indicate 

 distinct and well-defined genera, there remains a tolerably numerous mass, 

 which, although not entirely homogeneous, consists of speeies having in 

 common the following characters. The study of foreign species may per- 

 mit at a future time a farther subdivision, but the transition between the 

 extreme forms seems so gradual, that I am unwilling, with my present 

 knowledge, to indicate tlie manner in M'hich this may be effected. 



The beak is long and slender, cylindrical, and usually curved, but some- 

 times nearly straight; the antennal grooves commence about the middle, 

 descend obliquely, and are wider, deeper and confluent behind. Mandi- 

 bles small, flattened, pointed, prominent, and without teeth. Antennae 

 rather slender, funicle 7-jointed, joints 1-3 varjing in length, 4-7 equal 

 in length, not passing into the club, which is oval, somewhat pointed, pu- 

 bescent and annulated. Prothonix narrowed and more or less constricted 

 in front, without postocnlar lobes; prosternum long in front of the coxae, 

 which are rather widely seirarated; not emarginate in front, impressed or 

 not, according to species. Elj'tra sometimes elongate with parallel sirlcs, 

 though usually narrowed from the humeri, so as to give a rhomboidal form 

 of body; posterior callosity feeble, tips usually conjointly rounded, some- 

 times separately rounded, exjxxsing in the latter case a small part of the 

 pygidium, which is, however, horizontal, and not vertical, as in Baris and 

 its allies. The middle and hind cox* are widely separated; metasternum 

 rather short, with wide episterna in the rhomboidal species; longer, with 

 narrower episterna in the elongate species; bvit in both cases distinctly 

 wider before and behind. Yentral surface ascending in some sijecies, 

 nearly horiz(mtal in others; firet and second joints longer than third. and 

 fourth ; fifth sometimes longer, sometimes not longer than the fourth : 

 tirst suture subsinuate, the others stronglj^ angulated at the sides. 

 Thighs unanned, tibiae not striate on the outer side, very feebly mucronate 

 at til); tai-si with the third joint veiy broad, bilobed, last joint long, with 

 stout, divergent claws. 



In the males of several species the prosternum just in front of the coxae is 

 armed with a slender process, which varies in length according to the in- 

 dividual, but not according to species. 



A. Elytra separately strongly rounded at tip; pygidium partly exposed; 

 posterior edge of prothoi-ax deeply emarginate beneath in front of 

 mesosternum. 

 Black, densely punctured ; above pruinose, 

 with fine scales or hairs, beneath scal^; 

 scutellnm clothed with white scales 1. scutellum- album. 



