Coleopterological Notices, III. 195 



agree much more satisfactorily in general organization and particu- 

 larly in the structure of the antennal funicle, the remaining species 

 constitute a very homogeneous assemblage, distinguishable at once 

 from Cleonus by the longer more slender cylindrical and less pubes- 

 cent beak, in which the modifications due to sex are much more 

 apparent than in the latter genus. In some species, such as macer 

 and sexualis, this sexual difference in length is extremely conspicu- 

 ous, the male rostrum being scarcely more than two-thirds as long 

 as that of the female. 



The antennae vary considerably in structure and afford one of the 

 most satisfactory characters for the subordinate grouping of the 

 species, as the relative length of the second funicular joint appears 

 to be affected but slightly by the sex of the individual ; in the posi- 

 tion of the antennae, however, the sexes differ quite noticeably, the 

 point of insertion being almost invariably nearer the apex in the 

 male than in the female. 



In the following table it has been my endeavor to outline natural 

 groups of species, even when definable only by general character- 

 istics of bodily form or of pronotal sculpture, which may prove 

 more or less difficult to seize upon. It should also be stated that 

 I have been reluctantly compelled to make an unusual number of 

 changes and emendations in the work of Dr. LeConte which, as in 

 the case of Cleonus, was apparently founded upon far too slender 

 material. 



Elytra prolonged at apex in rather acute and more or less everted processes ; 



species homologous with the European iridis Oliv 2 



Elytra without elongated and everted apical processes 3 



2 — Body broadly oval, black throughout, the antennae paler and with the 

 first funicular joint very short, not as long as the third and fourth com- 

 bined 1 caudifer 



Body narrowly oval and more convex, more or less rufescent, the first funi- 

 cular joint more elongate and fully equal to the third and fourth. 

 Ventral segments not angularly produced posteriorly at the sides. 



2 auctus 

 Ventral segments two to four abruptly, acutely angulate Behind at the sides. 



3 riibellus 

 3 — Second funicular joint short, slightly shorter than the next two combined ; 

 scape very long, subequal to the entire remainder ; general form robust, 

 parallel, the sculpture scabrous, the pronotum broadly impressed. 



4 asper 



Second funicular joint moderately elongate, subequal in length to the next 



two combined 4 



