LcConte.] SCOLYTIDJK. 



mera small, transverse, posterior and i ulistinet. Metasteraum v. ry long, 

 episterna parallel, rather wide; hi, id cox;e slightly separated. Ventral seg- 

 ments 5; first and second very short, together sriro-ly equal to the third. 

 which is equal to the fourth; fifth a little longer, rounded behind; last dor- 

 s-.il segment horizontal, partially or completely covered by the elytra, ac- 

 cording as the segments are deflexed or retrac ed, 



Elytra margined and perpendicularly declivous at base, striate, variously 

 prolonged into processes at tip, according to species and ssx. Mus.xiotiun 

 strongly carinate. 



Legs short, thighs s'out, compressed; tibiae shorter than the thighs, stout, 

 unguiculate, marked on the outer side with transverse ridges. Tarsi long, 

 slender, first joint as long or longer than the three following united; fourth 

 joint one-half as long as the third; fifth as long as the joints 2-4 united; 

 claws long, simple, divergent. 



This sub- family is represented in our fauna by a fow species of Platypu* 

 found chiefly in the Southern States. The species are cylindrical, and sug- 

 gest a resemblance to certain Golydiida, from which, however, they widely 

 depart in structural characters. 



PLATYPUS Herbst. 



In this genus the maxillary palpi are large, fiV, membranous, 4-jointed, 

 with the joints received one into the other, and the pygidium is almost or 

 entirely covered by the elytra. The sexual differences in the processes of 

 the elytra are sucli as to make it difficult to construct a table of the species: 



1. Ventral segments with elevations 



" " without elevations 3. 



2. Elevations at the posterior margin of the 



third segment 1. flavicornis 9 



Elevations very acute, at the posterior mar- 

 gin of the fourth segment 2. quadridentatus 9 



3. Prothorax nearly twice as long as wide 3. compositus <$ 9 



one-half longer than wide 4. rugulosus <$ 9 



" with two large discoidal punctures 1. flavicornis $. 



1. P. flavicornis Chap., Mon. Plat. 154, f. 70, r? 9 : Bostriehu* fur. 

 Fabr., Mant. 212; Sp. Ins. i, 67; Ent. Syst. ii, 364; Syst. Kl. ii, 384; Herbst, 

 Kafer, v, 118; Scolytu* flat. Oliv., Ent. 78, 4, pi. 1, f. 1. 



J* . Elytra with the third interspace some what elevated and roughened at 

 base; th3 posterior process of the elytra shorter and leis acute; the declivity 

 of the elytra concave near the tip, and the tip itself truncate and feebly 

 emarginate. Ventral segments finely rugose, regularly convex; pr.)t!iora.\ 

 with a large puncture each side of the anterior extremity of the short < 

 impressed line; P. di*eiporu<* Chap., 1. c. 219, f. 123, is a variety in which 

 the clytral process is shorter and less prominent. 



9. Elytra with the base of the third interspace less elevated; the \. 

 rior process longer, more acute, serrate on the outer side. Ventral surface 



