STAPHYLINID^-; 1 1 1 







longer than the second, fourth very little longer than wide, the fifth 

 nearly as long as wide, the outer joints only slightly wider than long, the 

 last ogival and shorter than the two preceding; prothorax rather small, 

 scarcely two-fifths wider than long, parallel and subevenly, moderately 

 rounded at the sides, the median line very finely and obsoletely impressed, 

 basally; elytra but slightly transverse, with feebly diverging sides, at 

 base fully a third wider, the suture broadly impressed at base and almost 

 one-half longer, than the prothorax; abdomen much narrower than the 

 elytra, parallel basally, arcuately and rather strongly narrowing pos- 

 teriorly, the fifth tergite a little longer than the fourth. Length 2.7 mm.; 

 width 0.75 mm. California (Saucelito, Marin Co.). 



This species is of the usual Athetid type, but may be recognized 

 by the characters given above as accurately as possible from the 

 female; another example, from San Francisco Co., and very im- 

 mature, represents a closely allied form with shorter outer antennal 

 joints, relatively smaller head which is almost as long as wide and 

 with rather smaller, less prominent eyes, the prothorax having the 

 parallel sides only very slightly arcuate; it apparently represents 

 a distinct species, the number of which seem to be unending. 



Atheta importuna n. sp. Moderately stout and only slightly convex, 

 somewhat shining, blackish-piceous, the head and abdomen black, the 

 latter pale at apex, the elytra very dark testaceous, becoming broadly 

 black basally and at the sides nearly to the tip, the legs very pale; punc- 

 tures fine, close, stronger and asperate on the elytra, rather close on the 

 abdomen except apically, the abdominal reticulation rather large, 

 strong and polygonal; pubescence moderately long and coarse; head 

 large, slightly wider than long, five-sixths as wide as the prothorax, the 

 eyes at evidently more than their own length from the base, the tempora 

 long, parallel, equally prominent and straight, broadly rounding at base, 

 the carinae strong and entire; antennae piceous-brown, paler and very 

 slender basally, rapidly and very strongly incrassate, thick at the tip, 

 the second and third joints long, subequal, the fourth distinctly elongate, 

 fifth as long as wide, the joints thence rapidly larger, very strongly 

 obtrapezoidal, tenth one-half wider than long, the last somewhat swollen, 

 oval, pointed at tip and as long as the two preceding; prothorax small, 

 a third wider than long, parallel, the sides slightly rounded, straighter 

 basally, the basal angles obtuse but sharp, the surface not definitely 

 impressed; elytra subparallel, but slightly transverse, almost two-fifths 

 wider and one-half longer than the prothorax, the apices very feebly 

 sinuate laterally; abdomen slightly narrower than the elytra, parallel, 

 narrowing a little at apex, the fifth tergite very much shorter than the 

 fourth; middle coxae slightly separated, the metasternal projection 

 small but elongate and acutely angulate. Length 2.7 mm.; width 

 0.69 mm. California (San Francisco). 



This species is somewhat aberrant in its small prothorax and 



