7A 
articulo 2do 8io longiore. 
1853.) 79 
Herbst, Kafer, 5, 180; Oliv. Ins. 11, tab. 1, fig. 5; Linn. Syst. Nat. (ed. Gmel.) 
A, 1621; ibid. (ed. Turton) 2, 100. 
S. 2oveboracensis Forster, Cent. Ins. 17. 
Oiceoptoma (Thanatophilus) marginatum Kirby, Fauna Bor. Am. 100. 
Southern and Middle States; according to Kirby found at lat. 54°. Kirby 
observes that in this case, at least, it would be very inexpedient to restore the 
older name, and this view I trust every entomologist wil! adopt. 
5.8. inequalis Fabr. Ent. Syst. 1, 251: Syst. El, 1,340; Olivier, 11, tab. 
2, fig. 20; Herbst, Kafer, 5, 185, tab. 41, fig. 2; Linn. Syst. Nat. (ed. Gmel.) 
4, 1620; ibid. (ed. Turton,) 2, 100. . 
Occeoptoma ( Thanatophilus) inequale Kirby, Fauna Bor. Am, 102. 
Common through all the Atlantic district. 
5B. Antenne articulo ultimo solo longiore, tribus precedentibus eequalibus ; 
a. Antenne breves, crassiusculz. 
6.8. peltata Lec. 
Scarabeus peltatus Catesby, Carol. 3, tab. 10, fig. 7, (1731.) 
Silpha Amertcana Linn. Syst. Nat. (ed. 12) 3.2, 570; (ed. Gmel.) 4, 1619. 
(ed. Turton) 2,99; Fabr. Ent. Syst. 1,249; Syst. El. 1, 337; Olivier, 
11, tab. 1, fiz. 9; Herbst, Kafer, 5, 176. 
Blatta, Americana Catesby, Linn. et auct. al. 
Ovceoptoma (Necrophila) Americanum Kirby, Fauna Bor. Am. 102. 
O. (NV .) terminatum Kirby, ibid. 103. 
O. (N.) affine Kirby, ibid. 103. 
O. (N.) Canadense Kirby, ibid. 104. | 
Northern, Middle and Southern States; the differences between Kirby’s species 
“appear to be partly individual and partly sexual; specimens presenting the cha- 
racters of all his species occur together. 
There is, however, a particular form which appears to be confined to the 
Southern States, which perhaps is sufficiently distinct to rank as a species; from 
the proportions of Catesby’s figure, it is probably his typical insect; in which 
ease the name Amerveana may be retained for the ordinary form, by those who 
wish to consider them as distinct. 
The variety in question is larger and much broader than those found at the 
North; the sides of the thorax are less rounded, and the surface more densely 
and coarsely punctured. Thesuture of the female is armed with a more distinct 
spine; the horizontal portion of the epipleure is broader and not so much 
deflexed. | | 
In regard to the change of name proposed above, I will merely observe that 
Catesby appears to have been the first describer of this species, and that his 
specific name has fallen into disuse, on account of the error committed by Lin- 
nzus in quoting Catesby’s work; as this error has remained uncorrected so long, 
We are at liberty to infer that subsequent authors have merely quoted Linnzus, 
without verifying his assertion. 
A|theugh by the change here proposed, a well known name is sacrificed to one 
completely unknown, it seems to me that there could be no good reason for re- 
fusing to replace the earlier name, which has been lost, not by forgetfulness nor 
by ignorance, but simply by a perpetuated misquotation. 
b. Antenne elongate, tenues, sensim paulo incrassate. 
7, $8. ramosa Say, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. 3; 193., 
S. cervaria Mannerheim, Bull. Mose. 1843, 252. 
Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri Territory, New Mexico, Oregon and Cali- 
fornia. In this widely distributed species, I have been able to distinguish three 
forms, which though differing by more decided characters than are usually to be 
found in varieties, can scarcely be considered in the light of ordinary species. 
a. The color is dull black; the thorax is very much narrowed in front, and 
more strongly rounded on the sides than in the others; the margin of the elytra 
is broader and less reflexed; in the male, the elytra are broadly rounded poste- 
43 
