98 Memoirs on the Coleoptera 



almost similar; prothorax not so short, less than one-half wider 

 than long, the sides, general surface and proportion of the parts 

 nearly similar, except that the transverse rugulae are feebler, the 

 fovese shining and smoother and the discal foveae before the middle 

 completely wanting; anterior transverse impression distinct; elytra 

 oblong but not quite so broad, one-half longer than wide (9 ), the 

 apex even more abruptly and broadly obtuse, with the long sinus 

 similarly distinct; striae very fine and more feebly impressed, the 

 intervals mutually equal in width and more feebly convex; met- 

 episterna two and one-half times as long as wide. Length ( 9 ) 

 7.2 mm.; width 2.6 mm. Washington State. One specimen, 

 without more definite record of locality tacomae n. sp. 



There is an evident bond of affinity uniting all the above species, 

 although this was apparently not suspected by LeConte in the 

 case of variolata. The singular ante-median discal fovese of the 

 pronotum are constantly present in the hembidioides section, occa- 

 sionally appear as a mere minute trace in the variolata group and 

 are well developed in invidiosa but wholly wanting in the related 

 tacomce; in the latter the strial intervals do not alternate in width 

 and prominence as they do in invidiosa and, as stated by Dejean, 

 in the European bogemanni Gyll. 



It is singular that in a genus so uniform in general structural 

 characters, outline of the prothorax and in other ways, there 

 should be such diversity in the sculpture and lustre of the elytra 

 as observable in hembidioides, quadripunctaia, variolata and obsoleta, 

 or such violent contrast as in the six large foveiform punctures of 

 variolata and the three very fine punctures of obsoleta, where they 

 often become subobsolete.* 



Agonum Bon. 

 This genus is difficult to define in accurate terms and is based 

 principally upon a specialization of habitus, due to the broader and 

 more parallel form of the body, relatively wider and more trans- 

 versely oval prothorax and the marked prevalence, in one of its 

 largest sections, of bright metallic coloration, almost unknown in 

 Anchomenus, at any rate as the latter occurs in North America. 



* Obsoleta occurred during August of a summer which I spent at Bluff Point, near 

 Plattsburg, Lake Champlain, in very great profusion. On one occasion while sitting 

 reading quietly. I felt a mild prick above my foot, and on investigating found that one 

 of these little beetles had bitten me through my stocking, evincing most remarkable 

 enterprise for such a diminutive animal and especially one having so short a head. 



