Coleopterological Notices, V. 479 



Under the name dentata Say, two remotely isolated species have 

 been confused, one having the body larger, pale brown throughout, 

 with the first dorsal strongly conical and prominent at apex in the 

 male, and the other smaller, black with paler elytra, the first ven- 

 tral not prominent at apex. Neither of these species corresponds 

 with Say's description, which states that the elytra are "half the 

 length of the tergum ;" body blackish, with paler elytra, the " ter- 

 gum simple," and the length one-twentieth of an inch. No species 

 of Bryaxis known to me has the elytra so short in comparison with 

 the tergum. No mention is made of any sexual modification, but 

 there is added " Yar. a. Reddish-brown." In view of the name 

 given by Say, and of the fact that he had before him reddish- 

 brown specimens, I think the best way out of this dilemma is to 

 apply the name dentata Say, to the species for which it is most 

 appropriate, viz.: the larger brown species with strongly conical 

 first dorsal, and to designate the smaller blackish species by an- 

 other name, as suggested in the following description drawn from 

 the male : — 



B. intricata n. sp. — Moderately stout, convex, polished and subimpnnc- 

 tate throughout, black ; antennae piceous ; elytra and legs rufo-ferruginous ; 

 pubescence short, subrecumbent, sparse. Head smaller and just visibly nar- 

 rower than the pro thorax, deeply trifoveate ; eyes moderate, but slightly more 

 than twice as long as the tempora, the latter strongly convergent ; antennse 

 rather short and stout, as long as the head and prothorax, club gradual, robust, 

 fourth joint scarcely longer than wide. Prothorax but slightly wider than 

 long, widest at the middle, with three extremely large equal circular and 

 spongiose fovese, the median much nearer the base than the lateral. Elytra 

 but slightly wider than long, quite distinctly less than twice as wide as the 

 prothorax, the sides moderately divergent, broadly arcuate ; humeri distinct. 

 Abdomen, viewed laterally, much shorter than the elytra. First dorsal nearly 

 two and one-half times as wide as its median length, broadly, parabolically 

 rounded behind throughout the width, with two fine short basal carinse which 

 are parallel and distant by about one-half the discal width, the surface evenly, 

 feebly convex throughout ; apex not deflexed but with the surface very slightly 

 more transversely arched in median sixth or seventh, the edge of the arch 

 broadly, very feebly and simply emarginate. Second segment scarcely one- 

 half as long as the first, excavated in anterior two-thirds and median third, 

 the excavation with two distant anteriorly divergent ridges which are densely 

 clothed with short erect setse ; at the apical margin, under the apex of the 



ing not only upon the amount and quality of this training, but upon the 

 relative freedom of the brain from temporary bias and prepossession. 



