ECHIASTER. 593 
Antenne short, the penultimate joints rather strongly transverse. Head rather 
broader than the elytra, nearly circular; eyes large, occupying the greater part of the 
sides. Thorax much longer than broad, subovate, gently curved and quite without 
angles at the sides, unimpressed. Elytra considerably longer than the thorax, dilutely 
fuscescent. The two terminal segments of the hind body tubular, quite black. 
Two examples. 
This agrees in most respects with Erichson’s description of EL. melanurus, but is, I 
think, a different species. 
4. Echiaster minutus. 
Brevior, ferrugineo-testaceus, antennis pedibusque testaceis, illis brevibus, clavatis ; prothorace quam latitudo 
paullo longiore ; abdomine apice summo nigricante. 
Long. 24 millim. 
Hab. Guatemata, Zapote (Champion); Nicaragua, Chontales (Janson). 
Antenne very short, the penultimate joints very strongly transverse. Head suboblong ; 
the eyes rather small, placed at the middle of the sides, the vertex slightly emarginate. 
Thorax curved at the sides, narrowed behind, but little prolonged in front, longitudinally 
but obsoletely raised along the middle, quite dull, like the head densely, almost imper- 
ceptibly sculptured. Elytra a good deal longer than the thorax, densely and very 
finely sculptured, very slightly infuscate behind. Hind body not elongate, attenuate 
behind, the sixth and seventh segments clothed with black hairs ; legs short. 
In this minute but distinct insect the labrum is less prominent than usual, and 
the lateral denticles are excessively minute. 
Two examples from Guatemala, one from Nicaragua. 
5. Echiaster championi. (Tab. XV. fig. 14.) 
Brevior, ferrugineo-testaceus, antennis pedibusque testaceis, illis brevibus, clavatis; capite subquadrato, oculis 
convexis ; prothorace quam latitudo vix longiore, longitudinaliter obsolete bisulcato. 
Long. 3 millim. 
Hab. Guatemata, near the city, Zapote (Champion). 
Very closely allied to E. minutus, but with a more quadrate head and considerably 
larger eyes ; the thorax slightly broader and distinctly bisulcate. 
6. Echiaster funebris. 
Niger, brevissime griseo-pubescens, densissime sculpturatus, peropacus ; antennis pedibusque sordide testaceis,. 
illis crassis. 
Long. 4 millim. 
Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui 2000 to 3000 feet (Champion). 
Antenne short, thick, the penultimate joints very strongly transverse. Head wide, 
nearly as broad as long, the vertex rounded, the eyes convex, the surface extremely densely 
BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Coleopt., Vol. I. Pt. 2, August 1886. 4 GG 
