1852.] 49 
utrinque elevata submarginali notato, elytris fortiter seriatim punctatis. Long. 
-07. Platte River, Nebraska Territory : covers itself with a casing of mud like 
the European species. The thorax is strongly margined, and has at the base 
near the lateral margin a little interrupted elevated line. In one specimen the 
the apex of the thorace is emarginate, but I can perceive no other difference. 
Synopsis of the Evcnemipes of Temperate North America. 
By Joun L. Lr Contre, M. D. 
Although many entomologists consider that the small group of Coleopterous 
insects, herein treated, constitute a peculiar family, | am under the necessity, 
after very careful examination, of viewing them as a mere section of the exten- 
sive natural family of Elateride, and no more entitled to a distinct place in the 
series, than any other group of genera in that family. 
The character which essentially distinguished the Hlateride from allied families, 
as Erichson* has pointed out, is the looseness of the articulation between the pro-and 
meso-thorax. In order to allow of greater liberty of motion, the posterior margin 
of the inflxed portion of the prothorax is more or less dilated, or concave, so as 
to slide over the opposing part of the messothorax. 
This character, although good in theory, is nevertheless sometimes difficult to 
be seen, and is less developed in the Eucnemides than in Typical Elaters: yet I 
have never failed to detect it, on close observation. In the genera Cebrio and 
Cerophytum it is completely wanting: the former recedes too in the prominent 
mandibles, and the latter in the posterior femora being inserted at the extremity 
of the elongate trochanter, instead of at its base and side, as in Elateride and 
most other Coleoptera. Although I have not yet detected the affinities of this 
difficult genus, I think there can be no doubt of the propriety of entirely excluding 
it both from the Elateride and Cebrionide. 
The Buprestide are distinguished from the Elateride by the posterior margin 
of the prothorax beneath, abutting directly against the mesothoracic segment. 
More distinct characters will be found in the union of the first and second inferior 
abdominal segments: the suture between them being visible only at the side: 
a character of great constancy is found in the form of the eyes, whichare strongly 
transverse in all Buprestide, while they are generally round in all Elateride. In 
order to include the Eucnemides with the other more typical groups, the Elate- 
ride may be thus defined. 
Coleoptera pentamera antennis serratis, mandibulis retractis, oculis rotun- 
datis ; prothorace inferne mesosternum superante ; acetabulis anticis parvis 
rotundatis, in prosterno sitis, postice valde hientibus: coxis posticis laminatis, 
trochanteribus stmplicibus ; abdomine 5-articulato, segmentis omnibus distinctts. 
_ According to the form of the sternum and front, this family may be divided 
into several groups, of which the first and easiest, the Eucnemides, may be dis- 
tinguished by the clypeus expanded in front of the antenne; the labrum con- 
cealed: the head strongly deflexed: the prosternum not lobed in front. Our 
native genera may be arranged as follows: 
A. Tarsi non laminiferi. 
a. Thorax marginatus, subtus non sulcatus. 
1. Palpi tenues, articulo ultimo vix crassiore. 
Pedes fortiter compressi, (antenne minus approximate) = Metasis Oliv. 
Pedes tenues : ; : : : } : : Tuarors Lap. 
2. Palpiarticulo ultimo dilatato, (sepius securi- 
formi}. 
a. Caput sub oculis non sulcatum. 
Laminz tectrices magne intus sensim dilatate : . EKuryprycuus. 
Lamine tectrices intus subsubito dilatate 
tarsi articulo 4to simplici : d ' : . Epipranis Esch. 
tarsi articulo 4to subtus breviter lobato ‘ - Emaruton Lap. 
Rane i ner emene sees: 
nm i a nn er a eR Ee a Res en en gee. ane 
* Germar’s Zeitschrift fir Entomol. 2, 179, 
