LeConte.] 



EMPHYASTLNT. 137 



In this species, which is easily known by the denuded transverse black 

 spot, sometimes becoming a band, about the middle of the elytra, the sec- 

 ond joint of the funiculus is longer than the first, and the tibiae are more 

 slender and more bent at the tip than in the others, thus establishing a pas- 

 sage to Listronotus. 



Tribe II. EMPHYASTINI. 



This tribe is evidently closely related to Ilylobiini, and agrees with it in 

 the structure of the mouth, but differs from it, as from all other tribes in 

 our fauna, by the peculiar form of the tibiae, which are fitted for digging. 



The front tibiae are compressed, slender, sub-sinuate, prolonged beyond 

 the articulation of the tarsus into a broad process, rounded at tip, and con- 

 cave beneath ; the spur is small and straight ; the middle tibiae are roughly 

 tuberculate and setose, with the apical margin repand, dilated on the 

 outer side, and armed with a straight fixed spur at the inner side; the hind 

 tibiae are bent outwards, tuberculate and setose; much thickened towards the 

 tip, with very large and acutely margined corbels. Tarsi sparsely setose 

 beneath, and not spongy; third joint not dilated nor bilobed ; fourth joint 

 moderate in size, claws slender, simple and divergent. 



The antennae are geniculate ; funiculus 7-jointed; first joint longer ; 2-7 

 gradually broader, forming a perfoliate stem uniting with the club, which 

 is oval, annulated and pubescent. Beak stout, shorter than the prothorax, 

 deeply grooved; antennal grooves extending to the eyes, which are small, 

 nearly round, and coarsely granulated. 



Prosternum not emarginate beneath; front coxae contiguous, middle ones 

 slightly separated, metasternum short, side pieces narrow, hind coxae rather 

 large, oval, widely separated, extending to the elytral margin. Thighs 

 stout, unarmed. Ventral segments unequal; third and fourth united equal 

 to the second or fifth; sutures straight, the first obliterated at the middle. 



The above characters are drawn from Emphyastes. The Australian 

 genus Aphela only differs by the legs being less stout ; the tibiae less ex- 

 panded or thickened towards the tip, and by the beak not being grooved. 



EMPHYASTES Mann. 



1. E. fucicola Mann., Bull. Mosc. 1852, ii, 354; Lcc., Pac. R. W. Expl. 

 & Surv. InsTSTTpl. 2, f. 8; Lacordaire, Gen. Col. Atlas, pi. 71, fi. 5. 



Sea Coast of the Pacific, from Alaska to San Diego; under sea- weed cast 

 up by the waves. The figure of the antenna given by Lacordaire is very 

 incorrect. . 



This species varies greatly in size, but I have observed none intermediate 

 between the large and small varieties. Length 4.8-6 mm. ; .19-. 24 inch. 



Tribe III. 11 v i.oiti i M. 



The mandibles in this tribe have two apical teeth, of which the lower 

 one is a little shorter ; there is besides a cusp on the inner edge, so that 

 they becomes thjee-toothed. This normal form is preserved through many 



PROC. AMER. PHILOS. SOC. XV. 96. R 



