STAPHYLINID.E 187 



moderate, two-thirds as wide as the prothorax, rounded at the sides, 

 the eyes at two-thirds their length from the base; antennae piceous, short, 

 gradually and moderately incrassate, the third joint much shorter than 

 the second, fourth to tenth mutually subsimilar though increasing, all 

 strongly transverse, the last very obtuse, fully as long as the two preced- 

 ing; prothorax not quite twice as wide as long, nearly parallel and widest 

 at the middle, the sides strongly, subevenly rounded, the apex but little 

 narrower than the base; surface scarcely at all modified, though very 

 faintly impressed transversely before the scutellum; elytra only moder- 

 ately transverse, with rather strongly diverging sides, at base equal in 

 width to the prothorax, at apex evidently wider, the suture about one- 

 half longer; abdomen rather long, slightly narrower than the elytra, 

 feebly tapering, the sixth tergite (cf) arcuate and nearly simple at tip, 

 with a very acute, inwardly directed and relatively rather small spine 

 at each side, the surface medially only very feebly and narrowly swollen 

 at apex. Length 2.0 mm.; width 0.6 mm. Arizona (Williams), 

 \Yickham. 



Differs from the preceding in its still shorter antennae, larger 

 head, more parallel and relatively less dilated prothorax and in 

 the male sexual characters. The single type before me is not 

 mature, the abdomen being somewhat distorted in drying. 



Placusa strata n. sp. Broad, feebly convex, dull, finely, asperately 

 and densely punctate, the abdomen almost equally densely but more 

 feebly and unevenly asperulate, also with larger granules widely dis- 

 persed; pubescence short, palish, dense and distinct; color piceous-black, 

 the elytra dusky-flavescent, the base and external apical parts blackish, 

 the legs pale, the femora piceous; head moderate, wider than long, two- 

 thirds as wide as the prothorax, the eyes large, moderately prominent, 

 the tempora obsolescent; antennae blackish, only moderately short, 

 slender basally, the third joint shorter than the second, fourth but little 

 thicker, slightly wider than long, four to six rather rapidly wider, six 

 to the tip forming a parallel-sided and rather thick part having the joints 

 strongly transverse, the last parallel, very obtuse, fully as long as the 

 two preceding; prothorax four-fifths wider than long, widest at base, 

 the sides thence distinctly converging and subevenly, moderately arcuate 

 to the apex, the base rounded, the surface unimpressed; elytra moder- 

 ately transverse, with feebly diverging sides, at base equal in width to the 

 prothorax, at apex evidently wider, the suture nearly two-fifths longer; 

 abdomen wide, almost as wide as the elytra, just visibly tapering and with 

 very feebly arcuate sides, the fifth tergite much longer than the fourth, the 

 first very feebly impressed at base, the next two unimpressed; basal 

 joint of the hind tarsi notably long. Length 1.9 mm.; width 0.65 mm. 

 California (Sonoma Co.). 



This species, which is represented by two females, differs from 

 either of those preceding in having the outer heavy part of the 



