51 



the mesosternum is always divided, so that the cavity for the reception of the prosternum is 

 formed both by the meso and metasternum ; the side pieces of the latter are always visiljle, 

 and the epimera are triangular. The hind coxae are broader internally ; their anterior mar- 

 gin is straight and transverse ; the hind margin is oblique. The antennal pores are diffused 

 on the sides of the joints in the first group, and concentrated in marginal foveas in the others. 

 The species are more or less flattened in form. 



Our groups are the following : — 



Epimera of Metathorax triangular, uncovered : Prosternum obtusely angulated behind the 

 CoxcB ; 



Metasternum and mesosternum closely united Chalcophorjs. 



Mesosternal suture distinct Buprestes. 



Epimera of Metathorax partly covered by abdomen ; Prosternum acutely angulated behind the 

 Coxce ; 



Front not contracted by insertion of antennae Anthaxi^. 



Front contracted by insertion of antennae Chrysobothres. 



Group L— CHALCOPHOR^ 



This group is represented in Canada by the sole genus Chalcophora, the species of 

 which are insects of large size, readily known by the antennal pores being diffused on 

 the sides of the joints. 



Amongst the most beautiful is Chalcophora liberta, Fitch, which is about J of an inch 

 in length, of a beautiful golden bronze ; the colour, however, varies ; some I have takeu 

 being coppery, bronze glossed with green, and even black. This is a very common species 

 around Ottawa, and can generally be found on young pine trees during the summer and 

 fall ; it usually feeds and rests on the tips of branches, with its head turned in, and then 

 bears a close resemblance to the young cones. The broadly rounded sides of the thorax, 

 the deep dorsal grooves and the entire sutural stria well distinguish this species. 



Group IT.— BUPRESTES. 



In this group the sides of the posterior part of the prosternum are straight, or very 

 feebly angulated, the apex is broad and obtusely rounded in most of the genera, but some- 

 times acute. The meso and metasternum are closely united by a transverse suture, and 

 the former is deeply excavated through its whole length for the reception of the proster- 

 num. The species are of moderate size and usually of elongated form : the attennal cavi- 

 ties are small and the front is not lobed before the antenrae ; the pores of the latter are 

 placed in foveae situated on the inferior margin of the joints, except in Cinyra, where they 

 are terminal : the elytra are not serrate in any of our species. 



Our genera may be arranged as follows : 



Prosternum obtusely rounded behind; 

 Mentum entirely corneous ; 



Scutellum, small, rounded 



Scutellum, very transverse, truncate 



Mentum, membranous anteriorly 



Prosternum, acute at tip 



DiCERCA. 



This genus contains many species, all of which are remarkable for the shape, which is 

 ovoid, with the tips of the elytra prolonged into a kind of tail with the two points more 

 or less convergent. 



The following may be taken as typical species of the genus : 



D. divaricata, Say, a thickly punctured beetle of a coppery lustre, sometimes brassy 

 above, the wing-cases striated and freckled with numerous fine irregular impressed lines 



DiCERCA. 



p(ecilonota. 

 .Ancylochira. 

 . Cinyra. 



