1853.] 329 
Middle States, abundant. Differs from M. violaceus in the thorax being 
shorter, less shining, and more densely punctured. The antennz are shorter 
and stouter than in the two preceding species. The ruge of the elytra 
are broad. but not deep; the ruge of the abdomen are fine and irregular. 
M. nigra Kirby seems to be merely a faded specimen; at least the very short 
description points out no distinctive character. ‘The color in my series varies 
from greenish black to blackish purple. 
5. M. perplexus, nigro-virescens, opacus, capite thoraceque minus dense 
punctatis, hoe vix angustiore, latitudine non breviore, lateribus subsinuatis bast 
subemarginato, elytris subtiliter intricato-rugosis apice obtusioribus. Long °7. 
One male specimen, Pennsylvania. This species is so similar in characters 
to the preceding, that I hesitate to consider it distinct. On close comparison, 
however, the differences are absolutely irreconcileable. The antennz are longer 
and more slender, so that the four last joints are equal in length to the four that 
precede them. The punctures of the head and thorax are less dense and more 
equally distributed; the thorax, instead of being ovoid, is rather bell-shaped, 
from the concavity of the sides; it is somewhat narrowed behind, and the base 
is scarcely emarginate. The elytra are broader and much more obtuse at the 
apex; the basal impression is altogether transverse, and not at all longitudinal. 
The color is greenish black, becoming distinctly green on the elytra. 
b. Antenne sexus utriusque conformes. 
6. M. parvus, niger, opacus, capite thoraceque confertim punctatis, hoe vix 
angustiore, transverso, subtiliter canaliculato, basi truncato, elytris longioribus, 
granulis distinctis minus elevatis asperatis. Long. -33—-43. 
Haldeman. Stansbury’s Report of Exploration of Salt Lake, 377. 
Sta Fe; collected by Mr. Fern, and given me by Haldeman. ‘The antenne 
are as Jong as the head and thorax, the third joint equal to the two next; the 
dorsal surface of the abdomen is indistinctly rugous. 
Species dubia. 
M. americanus, Leach, Lin. Tr., 11, 251, pl. 18, figs. 5 and 6. 
<¢ Caput violascens, punctis minutis impressum. Thorax violascens, punctis 
minutis vage impressus, postice emarginatus et marginatus. Elytra nigra, sub- 
nitentia, minime rugulosa. Abdomen nigrum subnitens, rugulosum, coriaceum. 
Pedes nigri, pilis brevissimis obtecti. Ungues interni ferrugineli, externi nigri.’’ 
The antenne in the figure are represented slender, as in M. angusticollis Say, 
and M. merens Lec. In color it resembles the latter, but no mention is made 
of the elytral punctures, which form a very conspicuous character of that spe- 
cies. From the small size of the punctures of the head and thorax it would 
appear probable that Leach had M. angusticollis Say in view, but as the re- 
markably small size of the thorax is not alluded to, I do not feel justified in 
sacrificing Say’s good description to Leach’s very poor one, until it shall be ren- 
dered necessary by the examination of Leach’s typical specimens, if they should 
still exist. 
CysteopEemMus Lec. 
Although possessing a species of this curious genus, Brandt and Erichson 
seem to have been misled by its external resemblance to Meloe, and have there- 
fore failed to recognise its generic value. There is a radical difference in the 
elytra, which, instead of being coriaceous and imbricate, are here of a strong 
and firm structure, with the suture regular. In certain species the elytra are 
very large, so as to extend far beyond the abdomen; they are then connate at the 
suture; in other species (the first division) the elytra are small, although con- 
vex and inflated; they are then entirely separated, and commence diverging 
from the very base, on account of the large size of the abdomen. The antenne 
are short and filiform, 11-jointed, the 2d joint short, the 3d scarcely longer than 
the 4th. ‘The palpi are much shorter than in Meloe. The legs are long and 
slender, the spurs are small, slender and acute; the claws of the tarsi are 
toothed near the base. 
