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ART. XXIII. — Synopsis of the species of Pterostichus Bon. and allied genera 



inhabiting temperate North America. 



By John L. LeConte, M. D. 



Although many attempts have been made to dismember the group of Carabica here 

 treated of, yet a close analysis of the genera formed has always shown them to be 

 untenable, and most systematic authors now follow the example of Dejean and 

 Erichson in uniting them into a single genus, by some called Feronia, by others 

 Pterostichus. By those who regard purity in the system of nomenclature, as 

 possessing some claims to importance, the latter name is adopted, as it has priority 

 by several years. In regard to the grouping of the large number of species com- 

 posing this genus, so as to facilitate our knowledge of them, very little has been 

 attempted, and the older divisions, at least as defined by Dejean, or by the Eno-Hsh 

 authors, so far from being of service, only tend to mislead the student. 



Being now occupied in writing a synonymical catalogue of the Coleoptera of the 

 United States, I have subjected all our species of Pterostichus to a critical examina- 

 tion, the results of which I here offer, with the adilition of diagnoses of all the species 

 observed. 



The genera made by European authors, such as Platyderus, Argutor, Omaseus, 

 Platysma, Adelosia, &c., I have entirely neglected, as I can find no definitions of 

 them which are recognizable, and it is very doubtful, M^hether, being founded on 

 merely slight differences in form of body, they should be considered as belongiuLT to 

 anything more than the particular European species, which were chosen as types. 



The only memoir that I have been able to refer to with any satisfaction, is that of 

 Baron Chaudoir;* and although, as will be seen in the sequel, I find it impossible to 

 adopt the numerous genera founded by him, yet I cannot but consider his essay as 

 the first rational attempt made to partition the species according to their real affini- 

 ties. 



I have been able to separate distinctly only five genera from the genus as left by 

 Dejean: Pcecilus Bon.; Evarthrus Lee. ; Loxa.ndrus Lee. ; Lophoglossus Lee. ; 

 and Hoi.cioPHORUs Lee. 



The second of these was already established by Chaudoir upon a single species 

 under the name Cyclotrachelus, which is totally inapplicable to most of the species of 

 the genus as here set forth : as, moreover. Baron Chaudoir would probably refuse to 



* Bulletin Soc. Imp. Nat. de Moscou, 1838, No. 1. 

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