572 Coleopterological Notices, V. 



impunctate elytra, but in the more strongly margined front and 

 very radically in the serrulation of the anterior tibiae, which in the 

 present species have about six strong triangular external teeth, in- 

 creasing in size and prominence toward apex ; in sphseroides the 

 teeth become broader and almost obsolete toward apex. The meso- 

 sternum in the form alluded to is m.uch more coarsely and closely 

 punctured. 



S. laxatus. — Oblong-oval, convex, polished, black, without aeneous lustre. 

 Head impunctate, strongly margined at the sides and apex, the lateral angles 

 right ; surface with a feeble and unevenly eroded chevron, ending behind in 

 the subbasal puncture which is visible in many other unrelated species. Pro- 

 thorax barely twice as wide as long, the sides rather strongly convergent, very 

 feebly and evenly arcuate from base to the apical angles, which are broadly, 

 transversely rounded ; margin strongly striate, feebly sigmoid viewed later- 

 ally, distinct along the apex ; disk very feebly sparsely obliquely and sub- 

 rugosely punctate, the lateral margin rather broadly smooth posteriorly ; cen- 

 tral parts broadly smooth and unsculptured ; basal margin closely coarsely 

 and deeply punctate. Elytra throughout nearly as in fraternus, except that 

 the outer subhumeral is more distinct from the marginal stria, the fourth 

 dorsal a little shorter, the sutural wholly obsolete just behind the middle and 

 not even traceable further, and the punctures of the posterior area finer and 

 very much less dense. Propygidium feebly impressed and subimpunctate 

 throughout the width in basal half, with a median cariniform interruption, 

 finely, closely punctate posteriorly ; pygidium very finely, sparsely punctate, 

 closely so near the sides anteriorly. Prosternal striae abbreviated at apical 

 third, gradually divergent throughout posteriorly, more rapidly behind ; 

 lateral converging carinse very strong, arcuate ; subapical foveas small, deep ; 

 mesosternum minutely, remotely punctulate, the apical stria entire. Anterior 

 tibiae with five or six erect subacute teeth, becoming much stronger, though 

 still longer than wide, toward apex. Length 3.9 mm. ; width 2.8 mm. 



Florida. 



Allied closely to fraternus, but a little larger than the largest of 

 that species, with finer, much less dense elytral punctures and 

 stronger but less numerous external denticles of the anterior tibiae. 

 In fraternus the sutural stria can always be distinctly traced to 

 the apex. 



S. propensUS. — Oblong-oval, convex, polished, dark piceo-rufous, the 

 legs paler. Head distinctly margined at the sides and front, scarcely at all 

 punctate, but with a transversely arcuate subapical line. Prothorax twice as 

 wide as long, the sides moderately convergent, broadly, feebly arcuate ; disk 

 sculptured almost exactly as in lucidulus. Elytra slightly wider and one-half 

 longer than the prothorax ; lateral stria distinct and broadly arcuate ; outer 

 subhumeral not visible ; oblique humeral coarse ; inner subhumeral distinct. 



