LECONTE 01^ EOCKY MOUNTAIN COLEOPTERA. 473 



APPENDIX II. 



THE NORTH AMERICAN SPECIES OF NEBRIA. 



Among the Coleoptera collected by Mr. Bowditch, I found three uu- 

 described species of Nebria ; two others were previously in my cabinet, 

 and these added to those already described increase the present number* 

 of North American species to twenty-two. 



Now the genus Nebria, with a few exceptional species, is restricted to 

 very northern regions or to high altitudes. It therefore possesses pe- 

 culiar fitness for indicating, by the relation of its numerous species, the 

 migrations, on the one hand, by which they have assumed their present 

 distribution, and the modifications in structure, on the other hand, by 

 which the descent of several species from an original stock may be 

 manifested. 



I have consequently availed myself of the present opportunity to 

 review the species in my collection, and have endeavored to separate 

 them into minor groups, in such way as to exhibit the closer resemblances 

 of the various forms which seem most nearly allied. 



For the rapid determination of species, the grouping here given will 

 be found less useful than the excellent table published by Dr. Horn in 

 Transactions of the American Entomological Society, 1870, iii, 98; but 

 the object of the two studies is different. Dr. Horn's was intended as 

 an analytical table of differences, to facilitate the recognition of species ; 

 mine is for the purpose of bringing out more clearly the resemblances. 



The relations of the new species here described with those mentioned 

 by Dr. Horn may be expressed in the following additions to his table : — 



Side margin of prothorax very narrow ingens Horn. 



Side-margin of prothorax wider ovipennis^ n. sp. 



Elytra purple, 3d, 5th, and 7th interspaces with two or three punctures, 



purpurata, n. sp. 

 Piceous-black, 3d stria with five or six small punctures.. ^re^arm Esch. 



Antennae and legs yellow-brown - obttisa, n. sp. 



Antennae and legs black : 

 Elytra rather broad, parallel on the sides, 3d stria with one dorsal 



puncture obliqua Lee. 



•Elytra narrower, with several dorsal punctures on the 3d interspace: 

 Elytra obovate, wider behind, striae fine longula, n. sp. 



Elytra parallel, striae deeper suturalis Lee. 



* * * * . * « * 



-Interspaces 3d, 5th, and 7th interrupted with large imnctures.. trifaria, 



n. sp. 

 Interspaces 3d and 7th with a few small punctures Eathvoni Lee. 



* Two Motschulskian indeterminates, N. elias and mollis, are omitted. 

 Bull. iv. No. 2 11 



