288 Coleopterological Notices, VII. 



means would gradually lead us ; but the whims of certain authors- 

 admit such refinement of classification in the genus Carabus, and 

 perhaps others. When we know something of the true laws of 

 relationship it will be time enough to devise some means of ex- 

 pressing them, perhaps by trinomials, quadrinomials or quinque- 

 nomials,or perhaps by some simpler exponential method, in which 

 the longest names will not stand for the most unimportant forms.. 

 Norfolk, Va., July 21, 1896. 



CICINDELIDJE. 



OMUS Esch. 



The major part of the species of this genus adhere very closely^ 

 to a common type of organization, and are more or less difBcult- 

 to discriminate among themselves. They are uniformly noctur- 

 nal in habits and black in color, this being relieved in rare cases 

 by a slight metallic reflection. The intromittent organ of the 

 male conforms to the general asymmetric type of the Cicindel- 

 idae, but is stouter and less acuminate than in Cicindela. Be- 

 sides the sexual character relating to the anterior tarsi, which 

 distinguishes this genus from Amblycheila, it should be stated 

 that there are but two supraorbital setigerous punctures in the lat- 

 ter genus, while in Omus these punctures are three or four in 

 number. The following table embraces all the species known to 

 me : — 



Elytra feebly punctato-rugose and dull, with large distant foveote; pronotum 

 with the lateral margin sotuewhat explanate and more broadly reflexed, 

 not attaining the base ; body very stout, black, with feeble submetallic 

 bronzy tinge dejeani Eche. 



Elytra deeply or more clearly punctate, the scattered foveolse small and much 

 less conspicuous ; pronotum not explanate at the sides, the margin nar- 

 rowly reflexed 2 



Elytra smooth and dull in lustre, impunctate throughout, the scattered foveo- 

 lse feeble ^ 14 



2 — Body black, without metallic lustre 3 



Body black with bronze lustre 13 



3 — Lateral margin of the prothorax distinctly reflexed, imperfectly attaining 

 the base, the sides almost straight and strongly convergent from apex to 

 base nearly as in dejeani 4 



Lateral margin fine and but slightly reflexed 5 



