118 MALACODERMATA. 
This little species is rather narrowed in front; the labrum is whitish, black at its 
base; the antenne are dark, with a few joints reddish at the base, scarcely so long as 
the head and thorax ; the joints subequal, from the second onwards a little longer than 
wide, scarcely serrate; on the front of the head are two faint impressions. The thorax 
is suborbiculate, a little truncate in front, shining, without visible punctuation. The 
elytra are shining brassy black, widening behind, and with their apices conjointly 
broadly rounded. The legs are black, with the tibiee and base of the tarsi pitchy red ; 
occasionally the front and middle femora are red also on their internal sides. 
Four specimens from San Gerdnimo, two from El Jicaro, and two from Cerro 
Zunil are referable to this species. 
ATTALUS. 
Atialus, irichson, Entomographien, p. 89 (1840). 
The only trenchant character by which this genus is separated is the structure of the 
second joint of the front tarsi in the male sex. According to my own observation they 
are less convex and less widened behind than Anthocomi or Eb@i; and some have the 
head more produced into a muzzle, on which the antenne are inserted; but this does 
not apply to all the species. 
About fifty species have been assigned to Attalus from Europe and the bordering 
districts, especially from the Mediterranean shores; and there are twenty-three species 
in Crotch’s list from North America. 
The species described here must be regarded as somewhat doubtfully assigned to the 
genus. 
1. Attalus sericans. 
Niger, supra subeneo-cinereus; elytris nigro-pilosellis, pube brevi densius vestitis micantibus; antennis pedi- 
busque nigris, illis articulis tribus basalibus picescentibus. Long. 4 millim. 
Hab. GuatTeMALA, Panima (Champion). 
Head subrostrate; antenne inserted in front of, but nearer together than the eyes, 
their third and fourth joints rather longer than those succeeding, which are only a little 
longer than wide. The crown is doubly impressed between the eyes, the base rounded 
and well separated from the thorax. The thorax is rather shining, but clothed with 
very short pubescence and pile, and is a very little wider than long. The elytra are a 
little widened behind; they are very densely pubescent, so as to render them dull; but 
the pubescence is so very short, and reflects the light, that they cannot be termed 
opaque. The legs and underside are black. 
Only one specimen has been taken of this insect. 
