Coleopterological Notices, III 69 



STRONGYLIUM Kirby. 



Two specimens of S. atrum Champ., from the Levette cabinet and 

 labeled "Arizona" are before me. This species is quite aberrant in 

 appearance and may be known at once by its large size, smooth but 

 dull surface, rather coarse, very dense pronotal punctuation and 

 fine unimpressed and feebly punctate elytral striae. 



CISTELID.E. 



There is probably no family, even of the Heteromera, where the 

 differentiation of genera depends so little upon definite and constant 

 modifications of special organs, and so greatly upon general habitus, 

 as in the Cistelidae. There are, for example, but few special char- 

 acters relating to the palpi, tarsal lobes, eyes or antennas, which 

 remain invariable throughout the limits of even those genera which, 

 in the majority of species, are particularly distinguished by important 

 developments or modifications of any one of the organs mentioned. 

 We are therefore beset with numerous difficulties in our definition 

 and limitation of the genera. 



In regard to the family considered in its entirety, however, the 

 case is quite different, since there is no group of the Heteromera 

 which is so homogeneous within itself, or so clearly limited in 

 extent. For, while closely related to the Tenebrionidae through 

 Strongylium and other allied genera, it is always and invariably 

 distinguishable by the pectination of the tarsal claws ; besides this 

 there is, in the vast majority of genera, a marked and unmistakable 

 peculiarity of facies which can seldom be mistaken. 



The porous system of the antennae is developed to an extent 

 unknown in the Tenebrionidae, except in certain of the strongyliide 

 genera, the entire surface of all but three or four of the basal joints 

 being studded with large circular sparsely placed pits, which are 

 filled with a white sensitive material of a spongy-pubescent nature. 

 These pores are frequently so large as to be quite conspicuous under 

 the lowest powers of amplification. 



The Cistelidae resemble the lower Tenebrionidae in the prolonga- 

 tion backward at the sides of the third and fourth ventral segments, 

 which is however more marked and general than in the latter family, 

 and also in the well-developed coriaceous posterior margin of these 



