194 MALACODERMATA, 
Fam. PTINIDA. 
Subfam. PT7NIDES. 
The subfamily are distinguished by their simple antennee, which are scarcely, if at 
all, serrate, and of which the three terminal joints are not very much longer than those 
preceding them. The thorax is more or less coarctate behind ; and the head, though 
decumbent, is not sunk into it; a further distinction is seen in the difference in the 
form of the body in the sexes. Though widely distributed, this section is but poorly 
represented by indigenous forms in North America: of eleven species found in the 
United States, three are introduced species; and one (Eucrada) I should be disposed to 
place in the Anobiides. In Central America we have to the present time eight distinct 
species, apparently indigenous, yet still of the Palearctic type. The species of Hedodia 
which has been recorded from Mexico is a 7richodesma. In South America they are 
even more restricted, being found (if we except two species of Meziwm) only in Chili. 
PTINUS. 
Ptinus, Linneus, Syst. Nat. 1. pt. 2, p. 565 (1766). 
Between seventy and eighty species of Péinus are described, the great majority being 
from the warmer parts of Europe ; but a few are found settled in Japan and the southern 
temperate zone. 
1. Ptinus latefasciatus. (Tab. X. fig. 5.) 
_Subparallelus, brevis, nigro-piceus; antennis, tibiis tarsisque rufis; thorace tuberculis quatuor valde elevatis, 
nigro-pilosis, basi coarctata in medio fulvo-hirtella; elytris latis, oblongo-subquadratis, basi apiceque 
griseo-tomentosis, fascia lata mediana denudata picea, striato-punctata, antice posticeque per lineam 
dentatam determinata; scutello niveo. Long. 4 millim. 
Hab. Muxico, Vera Cruz (Sallé); GuateMata, Cerro Zunil, Paso Antonio, Duefias 
(Champion); Panama, David, Tolé (Champion). 
This insect appears to be not unlike P. italicus, judging from the figure of that 
species in the French Annals accompanying M. Boieldieu’s monograph. It is the 
largest species of those we have yet received from Central America; and the larger 
examples are about equal in size to large females of P. fur. ‘The suture behind is 
pitchy red. 
2. Ptinus albipunctum. 
Nigro-piceus, oblongus ; capite latiore ; thorace tuberculis quatuor, intermediis valde, lateralibus parum elevatis, 
postice valde coarctato ; elytris parallelis, punctis sex niveis, duobus ante medium juxta suturam, duobus 
