AMERICAN COLEOPTERA. 141 



Synopsis of the SCOLYTID^ of America North of Mexico. 

 BY C. ZIMMERMANN, M. D., 



With Notes and an Appendix by J. L. LeConte, M. D. 



[Among tlie MSS. of my deceased friend, Dr. Zimmermann, I find 

 several partially completed memoirs, which contain not only systematic 

 ideas of much value, but descriptions of many new species beloDging 

 to our fauna. His widow having kindly submitted the whole of the 

 MSS. to me for examination, it is my intention from time to time to se- 

 lect such groups as have not yet received attention from American stu- 

 dents, and to present extracts from the MSS. which will secure for fu- 

 ture reference at least a portion of the labor of the author ; it is a sub- 

 ject of regret to me, that the different memoirs which he prepared 

 were not furnished for publication without delay, for I find in them 

 improvements in classification, unknown at the time of writing, though 

 the most important have been since developed by other observers. 



On the present occasion, I give the result of his investigation of the 

 family of Khynchophora, known as Scolytid^e but in the MSS. called 

 HylurgiDjE, for reasons which are detailed below. 



The Scolytidae are distinguished from the other families of Khyn- 

 chophora by the 3rd tarsal joint not being received in the 2nd, the an- 

 tennas strongly clubbed and geniculate, and by the tibiae being serrate 

 on the outer margin.* 



For the purpose of rendering the present contribution more com- 

 plete I have added descriptions and references to species in my own 

 collection, not mentioned in the MS. memoir before me; and where 

 the views of other systematists difier from those of our author in re- 

 card to the limits of genera, I have called attention to the fact. 



The family Hylurgid^ being thus defined by Dr. Zimmermann is 

 divided by him into the following tribes : 



*Dr. Zimmermann has in a pencil note marked for investigation the relations 

 between the present family and the Apatidce, (Bostrichidse of most authors^; al- 

 though there is much resemblance in form, and to a certain extent in habits be- 

 tween the two types, the latter fails in what I have regarded (Am. Journ. Sc. 1867, 

 xliv,) as the defining character of the Rhynchophora, viz. the enclosure of the 

 posterior extremity, of the prosternum by the side pieces of the prothorax. 

 The resemblance between the two families in question is similar to that between 

 Brenthidse and Colydiidffi, or Rhyssodidee; or that between Anthribidse and 

 certain Cerambycidse. To take a more familiar example, it is like the repeti- 

 tion of forms observed in comparing Marsupials with placental Mammals. 



TRANS. AMER. ENT. SOC. (19) SEPTEMBER, 1868. 



