Coleopterological Notices, III. 49 



Texas ; District of Columbia. 



A small, robust and convex species, with unusually short, even 

 and pale pubescence, and bearing a striking resemblance to Lepto- 

 stylas biustus. It is rather closely related to Leiopus crassulus, 

 from Lower California, but is well distinguished by its more elon- 

 gate and convex form, longer and denser pubescence, and especially 

 by the form of the elytral apices, which are here obliquely and 

 strongly truncate, but evenly rounded in crassulus. This species 

 has been described by Dr. Horn (Tr. Am. Ent. Soc, Till, p. 125), 

 and somewhat doubtfully referred to L. crassulus, but I think that 

 the form of the elytral apices will conclusively distinguish them. 



It is scarcely possible to divide our species of Leiopus generically 

 upon the presence or absence of fasciculate tufts on the elytra, and, 

 as there is but little difference in the degree of separation of the 

 middle coxae, the mesosternum being rather broad throughout, it 

 seems probable that all of our species will have to be assigned to 

 Eleothinus as recently defined by Mr. Bates, or, perhaps more 

 justly, the genus Sternidius Lee. should be revived for these species, 

 in which case Eleothinus would become synonymous. 



VALEtfUS n. gen. 



Body oblong, depressed, minutely, sparsely pubescent and with long erect 

 sparsely placed flying hairs. Head vertical ; front subquadrate, transverse, 

 finely carinate along the coriaceous support of the labrum ; mandibles small ; 

 palpi slender, unequal, the terminal joints slender and gradually acuminate, 

 second joint of the labial robust, the third oblique and much narrower ; men- 

 turn small, transverse, very deeply inserted and inwardly oblique ; eyes deeply 

 emarginate, moderately finely granulate ; antennae inserted at the sides within 

 the ocular emarginations, widely distant at base, slender, minutely, rather 

 densely pubescent, the first three or four joints with a single series of short, 

 spinose setae beneath, scape long, slender, cylindrical, without trace of apical 

 cicatrix. Prothorax obliquely spinose at the sides behind. Elytra not cari- 

 nate at the sides. Anterior coxae not appreciably angulated externally, the 

 middle cavities distinctly open, narrowly separated. Legs slender ; femora 

 feebly clavate ; tarsi short, robust, the basal joint of the posterior slightly 

 longer than the next two combined ; claws divaricate, small. 



This genus belongs near Lepturges and is apparently still more 

 closely allied to the Central American Phrissolaus Bates, differing 

 from the latter in its much shorter antennae, depressed form, rounded 

 elytral apices and more normal abdominal structure, the fifth seg- 

 ment of the male being only as long as the two preceding together 

 and obtusely sinuate at apex. 



