NORTH OF MEXICO. 



359 



our fauna renders it unadvisable to outer further into the discussion of this question. To 

 those who desire to pursue it further, the works of Lacordaire and Mulsant afford abund- 

 ant means. 



The following table exhibits our genera. 



Tibial spurs small; last joint of maxillary palpi triangular. 



Anterior tibise slightly dilated, outer angle prolonged; antennee with the last lour joints 



suddenly broader; interooxal prooess acute. ammodonus. 



Anterior tibise broad, triangular; antennee with gradually broader joints; short, olavate. ephalus. 

 Tibial spurs very lai'ge; last joint of maxillary palpi oval. 



[nterooxal process triangular, acute; eyes large. cnemeplatia. 



Interooxal prooess very broad, rounded; eyes absent. alatjdes. 



Each of the above genera may he considered as the representative of a distinct sub- 

 tribe. The characters of each will be given in more detail as each genus is considered. 



AMMODONUS, Muls. 



Ammodonus, Muls., Opusc. Ent. Cahier X, i>. 148. 



Body oval, moderately convex. Epistoma rather broadly emarginate. Eyes coarsely 

 granulated, emarginate in front by the side of the head. Last joint of maxillary palpi 

 feebly triangular. Antennee longer than the head, first two joints thicker, third joint 

 larger than the fourth, joints four to seven gradually shorter and more transverse, eighl 

 to eleven rather suddenly broader. Prothorax applied against the base of elytra, Scu- 

 tellum small. Elytral epipleurse gradually narrower toward apex, extending slightly be- 

 yond the fourth ventral suture. Anterior tibiae gradually wider, external apical angle 

 much prolonged and acute. Tibial spurs small. Middle and hind tibiee slender. First 

 and last joints of hind tarsi equal and longer than second and third together. Intercoxal 

 process of abdomen triangular, acute. Hind margin of third and fourth ventral segments 

 distinctly sub-coriaceous and feebly arcuate. Body winged. 



A. fossor, Leo., (Opatrum) Journ, Acad., 2d Series, 1, i>. 93; Muls. (Ammodonus) Opusc. lint. Cah. X, p. 144. 



The generic characters are of such a, nature as renders any detailed description of the 

 unique species unnecessary. The margin of the body is fringed with short hairs, the sur- 

 face black, but densely clothed with ash-colored scales. On the elytra the vestiture is less 

 dense, and three series of rounded spots are visible on each elytron, in which tin; scales 

 are paler and more densely placed. The under surface and legs are paler and the scales 

 sparsely scattered. 



Length .18-. 22 inch. 



Not common in collections. It lias been found in considerable numbers burrowing in 

 the sand in the neighborhood of Trenton, and at Bath, Long Island. 



