STAPHYLINID.E 243 



elytra, the fifth tergite fully three-fifths as wide as the base. Length 

 2.1 mm.; width 0.55 mm. California (coast region from Humboldt 

 to Los Angeles). 



Differs from frivola in its slightly larger size, duller lustre and 

 much denser sculpture, especially of the abdomen. It is one of 

 the most abundant and better defined of the Pacific coast species. 



Myllaena vegeta n. sp. Very stout and convex, blackish-piceous, the 

 abdomen scarcely paler apically, dull, the palish vestiture very dense 

 and rather shaggy, composed of minute decumbent and longer suberect 

 hairs; head about half as wide as the prothorax, the antennae (cf) dark, 

 pale at base and apically, slender, rather long and almost filiform, the 

 tenth joint one-half longer than wide; prothorax large, one-half wider 

 than long, much narrowed at apex, very convex, widest at base, the 

 sides evenly and rather strongly rounded, the base transverse, only very 

 feebly arcuate, broadly sinuate laterally, the jngles scarcely more than 

 right, distinct and evidently though not strongly projecting posteriorly; 

 elytra much shorter and not quite so wide as the prothorax, the suture 

 but little more than two-thirds as long as the latter, the apical sinuses 

 large and deep; abdomen not quite so wide as the elytral apex, moderately 

 though evenly tapering, the fifth tergite evidently more than half as 

 wide as the base, the margins not very thin. Length (contracted) 

 1.7 mm.; width 0.72 mm. California (Pomona, Los Angeles Co.), 

 Fall. 



Recognizable without difficulty by its stout and very convex, 

 limuloid form, slender antennae and rather short elytra. 



Myllaena umbra n. sp Stout, convex and limuliform, black or piceous- 

 black throughout, the abdomen not paler at tip as a rule, slightly shining, 

 the dark vestiture moderately short and subeven; head rather small, 

 about half as wide as the prothorax, the antennae (cf) moderate in length, 

 rather stout though only feebly incrassulate, brown in color, the tenth 

 joint somewhat obconic, a fifth longer than wide; prothorax three-fifths 

 wider than long, widest at base and equal in width to the elytra, much 

 narrowed at apex, the sides strongly rounded, the base broadly arcuate, 

 becoming faintly sinuate laterally, the angles slightly prominent poste- 

 riorly but obtuse and unusually rounded; elytra very well developed, 

 parallel, the suture about a fifth longer than the prothorax, the apical 

 sinuses deep and well developed; abdomen at base nearly as wide as 

 the elytra, evenly and very strongly tapering, with straight sides and 

 rather thin margins, the fifth tergite less than half as wide as the base. 

 Length 1.72-2.1 mm.; width 0.65-0.7 mm. California (coast regions 

 from Humboldt to Los Angeles Co., and also at Lake Tahoe). 



To be known readily by the stout body, with very acutely tap- 

 ering abdomen and well developed elytra. It is even more widely 

 distributed than esuriens and is fully as abundant. 



