AMERICAN COLEOPTERA. 243 



Synonymical notes on COLEOPTEKA of the United States, with descriptions 

 of new species, from the MSS. of the late Dr. C. Zimmermann. 



EDITED Bi^ JOHN L. LECONTE, M. D. 



CARABIDaE. 



1. Metabletus horealis Zim. — Long. IJ lin. Black, very similar to M. ameri- 

 canus, but easily distinguished by the prothorax, which is transversely quad- 

 rate, only slightly narrowed behind, with broadly reflexed hind angles. — Lake 

 Superior. 



[Dr. Zimmermann united with Metabletus both Aprisfus and Blech- 

 rus, with the following remarks :] 



"The fundamental character of generic similarity, resemblance in 

 form of body, belongs to all species mentioned below, which form a very 

 natural group, easily distinguished from Dromius, with which it was 

 formerly united; of the divisions which may be recognized among these 

 species, some (^Ajiristus, BJechrus) have been separated as distinct 

 genera, although they must, by the want of primary generic right (Gat- 

 tungsrechte), as well as by the absence of permanence in the secondary 

 generic characters, fall again into the central group." 



[The divisions alluded to above, are then arranged as follows :] 



A. Head elongated, narrowed behind; 



a. Elytra scarcely shorter than the abdomen, but slightly truncate.— ^( Vario- 



palpus Sol.) 



b. Elytra shorter than the abdomen. — {Oxoides Sol.) 



B. Head shorter, not obviously narrowed behind: 



c. Peduncle of prothorax strongly projecting; elytra rectilinearly trunc- 



ate behind; (emargination of mentum without prominent tooth.) — 

 {Blechrus Schaum ; Bomius Lee; Microlestes Schmidt-Goebel.) 



d. Peduncle of prothorax strongly projecting; elytra feebly sinuate at the 



posterior truncation; (emargination of mentum with prominent tooth.) 

 {Metabletus Schaum; Dromoceryx Schmidt-Goebel; Syntomus Hope.) 



e. Peduncle of prothorax very feebly prominent; tip of elytra scarcely si- 



nuate; (emargination of mentum with a prominent tooth.) — Apristus 

 Chaud. 



2. Cymindis brevipennis Zimm. — Long. 4 — 4i lin. Ferruginous, elytra dark 

 brown, with greenish metallic gloss; palpi, antennae, legs, a humeral spot, and 

 the side margin of the elytra testaceous yellow. Head and prothorax thickly 

 and coarsely punctured ; the latter cordate, with broadly reflexed side margin, 

 and almost rectangular slightly projecting hind angles. Elytra unusually 

 short, slightly convex, with punctured striae, intervals with double rows of punc- 

 tures ; the 3rd interval with scarcely discernable dorsal punctures. — Kansas. 



LeConte (Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist. N. York, iv, 186) has erroneously 

 considered this species as C. cribricollis Dej. 



