STAPHYLINID/E. 37 



the sixth (cf ) very broad at apex, sinuate at each side within a slender porrect 

 acute process, the middle between the sinuses projecting posteriorly in a large 

 lobe, parallel basally, which has its angles very broadly rounded, with acute, 

 and slightly reflexed edges and the apex sinuate medially; mesosternum 

 rather broad between the coxae, extending beyond their middle, with its 

 apex rapidly acute but not aciculate and separated from the metasternal 

 projection, which is nearly twice as wide as long with the apex of its angle 

 rounded, by a moderately long and very deep concavity; first four joints 

 of the hind tarsi equal, only moderately elongate. Length 2.6 mm.; width 

 0.7 mm. Mississippi (Vicksburg). 



A very distinct species in all of its characters, but especially in 

 the sexual modifications of the male. 



Atheta prolata n. sp. Moderately slender and convex, subparallel, rather 

 dull, minutely, closely, asperulately punctulate, the abdomen shining; color 

 black, the prothorax dark piceous, the elytra paler, the legs still paler, the 

 antennae blackish, slightly paler basally; head moderately transverse, the 

 eyes large, convex and prominent, at much less than their own length from 

 the base, the carinae very fine and faint but subentire; antennae rather short, 

 gradually rather thick distally, the second and third joints moderately elon- 

 gate, equal in length, the latter much more strongly obconical, the outer 

 joints strongly transverse, the eleventh finely pointed, evidently longer than 

 the two preceding; prothorax moderate in size, rather strongly transverse, 

 parallel, well rounded at the sides, distinctly wider than the head but even 

 more evidently narrower than the elytra, which are moderately transverse, 

 much longer than the prothorax; abdomen parallel, much narrower than the 

 elytra, the tergites equal in length, the sixth (d 1 ) broad at base but very 

 rapidly trapezoidal, apparently without trace of lateral processes, the apex 

 comparatively narrow, transversely and gently bisinuate, the lateral angles 

 broadly rounded, the surface not peculiarly modified, flat; mesosternal process 

 extending to apical third of the coxae, its apex drawn out but only moder- 

 ately slender, the point blunt, separated from the triangular metasternum 

 by a rather short depressed interval; tarsal joints rather short. Length 

 2.4 mm.; width 0.6 mm. California (mountains near Claremont), Baker. 



The male sexual characters are unlike anything else that I have 

 observed in the genus. 



The following seven species are described in some cases from the 

 female, or perhaps from males without distinguishing abdominal 

 characters, but in every instance there are structural features which 

 will render them easy to identify and they are all widely isolated. 



Atheta mollicula n. sp. Moderately stout and convex, shining, pale tes- 

 taceous, the head and a large subapical abdominal cloud black, the elytra 

 blackish extero-posteriorly; antennae blackish, basally pale, the legs very 

 pale; micro-reticulation unusually coarse but very feeble, the punctures 

 minute and rather sparse; head moderate, the eyes at more than their 

 own length from the base, strongly setose, the carinae fine but distinct, 



