REPOET OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 281 



the two species mainly by tlic •Structure of the fintenna}, A. signatus 

 having the funicle of the antenntc slender, with the second joint longer 

 than the third, whereas A. musculus (and a number of other species) 

 has the funicle less slender, with the second joint equal to the third. 

 This is the difference also upon which he separated them in correspond- 

 ence with us in 1873. In his description of A. signatus ( I. c, p. 199), 

 he says, however: "The second joint «f the funiculus of the antennae is 

 percei;tibly longer thah the third, but not so much so as in the preced- 

 ing species. It therefore forms a passage to the small species which 

 compose the next group." 



Thus the importance of the antennal structure as a means of dis- 

 tinguishing between the two species is already weakened by Dr. Le 

 Conte's own statement. Moreover, upon 'examination of a largo series 

 of specimens collected on strawberry plants, we find that the length of 

 the funicle of the antennte as well as the relative length of the second 

 and third joints are subject to variation. In some specimens the second 

 joint is distinctly longer than the third, while in other specimens the 

 difference is hardly noticeable. The outer joints of the funicle are 

 sometimes nearly rounded and sometimes distinctly transverse, i. c, 

 wider than long. The same variation may be noted in other allied 

 species of this genus, and it is safe to assert that Dr. Le Conte has 

 overrated the importance of this character. Thus, in the absence of 

 any other distinguishing character of any constancy, it would seem to 

 be advisable to unite the two forms under one specific name. In this 

 case this name imisculus Say must be adopted as having priority. 



How greatly the coloration varies may be gathered from the tabular 

 statement given in connection with the redescription. Still another 

 species must be mentioned in this connection, A. suturalis, described 

 and figured by Major Le Conte (Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist., New York, i, p. 

 171, pi. xi. Fig. 9), and placed by Dr. Le Conte {RltynchopJiora, «&c., p. 

 200) immediately before A. musculus. Mature and well-developed speci- 

 mens of suturalis are at once distinguished by the coloration of the 

 elytra, which are black, with a large red or bright orange-colored spot 

 on the apex, the suture alone being black. However, this red spot 

 varies in extent, and specimens in which the elytra are nearly entirely 

 red come extremely close to the more immature specimens of A. muscu- 

 lus (as we have already shown, p. 278), so that Dr. Le Conte says himself 

 of this latter species {RhyncJiophora, &c., p. 201): "Smaller and more 

 robust [than suturalis], with the beak more slender, and the funicle of 

 the antenna} with the outer joints more rounded. I can find no other 

 differences worth mentioning, aud it will very probably be found to be 

 tiot distinct." 



DESCEIPTIVE. 



Anthonomus lyiuscnJus, Say — General sliape oblong, narrowing anteriorly. Average 

 lcngtli,2™™. Head Mack, nearly opaque ; sparsely and obsolotolypiinctulate; witlia 

 few hairs fringing the eyes, and with a punctiform improssiou between t]ie oyes; 

 boak distinctly longer than the head and thorax, slightly curved, obsoletely tricari- 

 jiiitc, nljove, extreme tip shining and impunctate ; antennae lionoy-yellow, second joint 

 of funicle slender, about half as long as the first and nearly twice as loug as wide, the 

 following joints rounded or even subtransverse ; club blackish, oblong. Thorax wider 

 than long, narrowed and constricted anteriorly, sides rounded, base slightly bisiuuato, 

 npper side shining, densely and rather strongly punctate, sparsely pubescent, the 

 hairs being longer and denser in front of the scutellum, which is oval, aud densely 

 covered with white pubescence. Elytra at base much wider than the thorax, about 

 one and two-third times longer than wide, convex, shining, variable in color, very 

 little widening behind the middle, shoulders well marked, sides straight, at tip rather 

 broadly rounded ; punctate-striate, striae rather shallow, but the punctures within them 

 deep, interstices a little wider than the stria), impunctate; pubescence variable, usa- 



