PHILONTHUS. 425 
Hab. Mexico, Jalapa (Hoge). 
Antenne not stout, rather short, penultimate joints not so long as broad. Head 
rather small, narrower than the thorax, the latter narrowed in front with the punctures 
of the discoidal series fine. Scutellum very indistinctly punctate, dull. Elytra densely 
and finely punctate, as is also the hind body. Legs with the coxe yellow, the tibie 
more obscure. 
This is apparently an obscure species of the P. micans group; only a single female 
has been found, having the front tarsi simple. It much resembles P. macilentus, but 
will be readily distinguished by the shorter antenne, the less parallel form, the less 
dense and fine punctuation of the elytra and hind body. 
77. Philonthus tachiniformis. (Tab. X. fig. 22.) 
Staphylinus tachiniformis, Say, Trans. Am. Phil. Soe. iv. p. 450°. 
Hab. Mexico! (Truqui), near the city of Mexico (Sallé), Las Vigas (Mohr), Jalapa 
(Hoge). 
The figure represents an example from Jalapa; the head is represented rather too 
large in comparison with the other parts of the body. 
78. Philonthus melancholicus. 
Nigerrimus ; tarsis palpisque piceis; capite ovato, antennis sat elongatis; elytris abdomineque dense punctatis. 
Long. 10 millim. 
Hab. Mexico, Capulalpam (Sal/é). 
Antenne about as long as the head and thorax, thickened externally, penultimate 
joint about as long as broad, joints 4-8 each longer than broad. Head small, much 
narrower than the thorax; the latter very black and shining, and a good deal narrowed 
in front. Elytra densely punctate, not longer than the thorax, dull, black. Hind body 
very densely and rather finely punctate. 
This is apparently extremely closely allied to P. tachiniformis, but is rather larger, 
and very different in appearance on account of its unicolorous dark colour. It is 
extremely similar also to a Californian insect labelled in my collection as being probably 
P. californicus, Mannerheim ; but P. melancholicus is smaller, has a less elongate-ovate 
head, the antenne a little shorter and externally thicker, and the hind angles of the 
thorax completely rounded. 
Only one example, a female, has been obtained. 
§ 7. Thorax seriebus dorsalibus vel T- vel multipunctatis. 
79. Philonthus rectilaterus. (Tab. X. fig. 23.) 
Niger ; capite thoraceque nigro-eneis, elytris fusco-eneis, pedibus fuscis, femoribus plus minusve flavescentibus 
BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. I. Pt. 2, March 1885. 3 1T 
