AMERICAN COLEOPTERA. 139 



P0RE03PASTA, n. g. 



Characters of Mcl.oc except, elytra not imbricate, contiguous along 

 anterior third of margin; scutellum distinct, transverse, truncate; 

 claws unequally cleft, lower portion of each claw very short, scarcely 

 half as long as upper. Antennae gradually clavate, outer joints round- 

 ed, last joint much longer and acute at tip. 



Another of the genera intermediate between MrJoc and Ilenous. 



P. polita, blaek, smooth, shining, head very distantly punctured and with 

 a yellow spot; thorax broader than long, hexagonal, truncate at apex and base, 

 sides siibangulate, disc flat, sides usually orange-yellow; elytra smooth, nearly 

 as long as abdomen, contiguous along anterior third; spurs of hind tibife dis- 

 similar, equal in size, inner acute, outer cylindrical, compressed, obliquely 

 truncate and concave at tip. Length .80 inch. 



The outline of elytra with abdomen is similar to that of Ilenous. 

 Several injured specimens from the Southern Coast Range of Cali- 

 fornia, collected by Mr. Wm. M. Gabb. 



The addition of several new genera since the publication of the 

 Synopsis by Dr. LeConte, renders it advisable to remodel the table in 

 such a manner that the new genera may be introduced in natural se- 

 quence. 



Elytra imbricated; claws cleft Meloe. 



Elytra divergent from scutellum ; claws toothed Megetra. 



Elytral margins contiguous at anterior third. 



Claws equally cleft Nomaspis. 



Claws with lower portion much shorter Poreospasta. 



Elytra contiguous along entire margin. 



Claws cleft; elytra subconnate Henous. 



Claws toothed; elytra connate and inflated Cysteodemus. 



MEGETRA Lee. 

 M. opaca, black, opaque, thorax pentagonal, broader than long, sides obtusely 

 angulate; elytra opaque, intricately rugose. Spurs of hind tibiae long, slender, 

 acute, the inner one longer. Length .50 — .60 inch. 



Diifer i'rom our other species in its smaller size and by the peculiar 

 blackness and opacity of the whole surface. The head has few punc- 

 tures about the occipnt. The elytra are relatively larger and broader 

 than in our other species, and vary somewhat in sculpture from a rather 

 coarse punctuation to the intricately rugose surface seen in the ely- 

 tra of the other species. The tibial spurs are much more slender and 

 acute and the tooth of the claws longer and less divergent. 



Found running on the ground in March and April atTemacula, Cali- 

 fornia, and one specimen from Fort Yuma. 



