THE GROUND BEETLES. 105 



their stria; are distinctly piinetured in but one of the nine, while 

 the hind angles of thorax are never carinate. The group includes 

 the subgenera Tricena and Amara of Hay-ward's paper. 



KEY TO SPECIES OF SROUP B. 



a. Apical spur of front tibito trifld; scutellar stria of elytru terminating 

 in an neeUate (eye-like) puncture at base; antennae witli the tliree 

 or four basal joints pale. 



b. Thorax narrowed from base to apex, its hind angles obtuse; fourth 



joint of antennje in great part i>ale. 155. angustata. 



bb. Thorax narro^^ed from slightly behind the middle to apex, hind 



angles sharply rectangular ; fourth joint of antenna; in great part 



piCeOUS.- PALLIPES. 



«(/. Apical spur of front tibia; simple. 



c. Basal joints of antennae not carinate; prosternum of nialt' not punc- 



tured. 

 il. Sfutellar stria terminatin); in an ocellate puncture; femora piceous 

 (ir dark reddish-brown, tlbi.-e ;iud tarsi paler. 



156. IMPUNCTICOLLIS. 



'/(/. Scutellar stria without ocellate puncture. 



( . I'jlytr;il stria; punctured; base of thorax finely iiuuctured. 



157. BASILLAEIS. 



!■<■. Elytral stria; not or nbsoletely punctured; base of thorax smooth. 

 f. Thorax narrowing from basal angles to apex ; form broad, ro- 

 bust ; terminal spur (if front tibiiE stouter than usual. 



CEASSISPINA. 



ff. Thorax narrowing from in front of base ; form oblong-oval ; 

 terminal spur of front tibin' normal. 158. cupreolata. 



fc. Antenuie with basal joints 2 and :l carinate above. 



g. Scutellar stria ending in an i.;ellate puncture. 159. fallax. 



rjff. Scutellar stria without puncture. 



h. Basal impressions of thorax very faint; larger, 7.5-9 mm. 



160. PKOTBNSA. 



liJi. Basal impressions of thorax distinct, the outer oblique; smaller, 

 6-7 mm. 161. polita. 



155 (651). Amaba angustata Say. Trans. Amer. Phil. Soc, II, 1S23, 36; 

 ibid. II, 463, 542. 

 Oval, convex. Black, bronzed, hhining ; legs dull reddish-yellow. Thorax 

 one-half wider than long, hind angU-s obtusely rounded, outer basal impres- 

 sion obsolete, the inner small, siiarsely or not at all punctured. Elytra 

 not wider than tliorax. gradually narrowed from the base; surface finely 

 alutar-eous. the stri^' not punctni'ed. or sparsely punctate at base; soutellar 

 stria ending in a laige evp-like ]iun(ture. I^ength 6-7.5 mm. 



Common in southern half of the State : less so in the north. 

 .April 10— Tniie 20. On tlu; fir^1 warm days of oarly spring this spe- 

 cies niid the next arc often found running raiiidly about near the 

 l)ases of trees and stumps in open woodland pastures. 



