STAPHYLINID^E 231 



Differs from the preceding in its larger head, less abbreviated 

 prothorax, more abruptly formed antennal club, less strongly 

 tapering abdomen and blacker and more shining integuments. 



There are some other forms among the numerous specimens 

 taken by the writer in California, one from near Monterey, another 

 from Sta. Cruz Co., and still another from Humboldt Co.; but 

 there is such an extreme mutual resemblance among all these modi- 

 fications of Oligota, that I hesitate to define them, even as subspecies; 

 they certainly could never be recognized from description and 

 scarcely from the types themselves, except under the closest ob- 

 servation. I think however that the two California forms here 

 defined can be noted as distinct on cursory view of the types, though 

 possibly not so readily from description. 



Oligota esmeraldae n. sp. Narrowly fusoid, convex, shining, black, 

 the elytra feebly picescent, the abdomen flavate at apex; punctures fine, 

 asperulate, not very close-set, the elytral sculpture rather coarsely but 

 not very strongly imbricate, the abdomen with the usual asperulate 

 imbrication; head three-fifths as wide as the prothorax, the antennae 

 blackish, pale basally, the seventh joint one-half wider than long, three- 

 fifths as wide as the eighth, the latter and ninth increasing in size, but 

 subsimilar in form and of equal length, feebly obtrapezoidal, two-fifths 

 and one-half wider than long, the last pyriform, about as long as the two 

 preceding; prothorax scarcely more than twice as wide as long, the sides 

 strongly converging and evenly arcuate from base to apex, much shorter 

 than the median line, the base equal in width to the elytral base and 

 closely applied thereto as usual; elytra rather transverse, with feebly 

 arcuate sides, at apex wider than the prothorax, the suture two-fifths 

 longer; abdomen at base slightly narrower than the elytra, tapering and 

 with nearly straight sides thence to the apex, the fifth tergite barely 

 three-fourths as wide as the first. Length 0.8 mm.; width 0.26 mm. 

 Nevada (Esmeralda Co.), Nunenmacher. 



Of the same general type as the two preceding and closely allied, 

 differing from calif arnica in its more narrowly but equally distinctly 

 fusiform outline and, from congruens, in its less parallel form and 

 relatively smaller head; the antennal club, as defined, will give 

 further differential criteria. 



Oligota texana n. sp.- -Smaller, narrower and more parallel, convex, 

 shining, dark red-brown, the head and abdomen black, the latter flavate 

 at apex; legs piceous, the coxae flavate; punctures fine, feeble, not very 

 close and slightly asperulate, larger but well separated and asperulo- 

 imbricate on the elytra, the abdomen imbricate; pubescence inconspic- 

 uous; antennae even shorter than usual, one half longer than the head, 



