88 MEMOIRS ox THE COLEOPTERA. 



and very distinct; antennae long, slender though gradually and very evi- 

 dently incrassate, the ninth joint nearly, the tenth fully as long as wide, 

 the last almost as long as the two preceding, the third shorter than the second ; 

 pro thorax rather transverse and a little wider than the head, slightly though 

 very distinctly narrower than the elytra, widest and with rather strongly 

 rounded sides anteriorly, somewhat broadly, feebly impressed along the 

 middle; elytra not as long as wide, much longer than the prothorax; ab- 

 domen only moderately narrow, parallel, the fifth tergite slightly longer 

 than the fourth, the sixth (cf) rectilinearly truncate, the edge finely and 

 feebly serrulate, the sixth ventral plate rather narrow, parabolic; middle 

 coxae and sterna as in Atheta, the former not contiguous, the metasternum 

 advancing and angulate between the coxae. Length 1.8 mm.; width 0.4 mm. 

 California (San Bernardino Mts.), Fall. 



This species is not strictly a Hydrosmecta, but is much more 

 closely allied to Atheta, not only in its sterna but in the fully de- 

 veloped infra-lateral carinae of the head. In general facies, however, 

 and particularly in its very long and slender antennae, it resembles 

 the present genus, with which I leave it rather than propose another 

 generic name. The two following species also are only provisionally 

 placed in Hydrosmecta, as the antennae are widely different and 

 purely Athetid. 



Hydrosmecta benigna n. sp. Very slender, linear, feebly convex, slightly 

 shining, the punctures very fine, close-set, coarser and more asperate but 

 sparse on the abdomen; color rather pale piceous-brown throughout, the 

 abdomen slightly blackish except basally and at apex, the elytra not paler, 

 the legs pale flavate; head well developed, nearly as long as wide, the tem- 

 pora somewhat swollen and as long as the eyes, the cannse fine but evident, 

 not entire; antennas infuscate, rather short, somewhat rapidly and distinctly 

 incrassate, the outer joints very evidently transverse, the last nearly as long 

 as the two preceding, the second much longer than the third; prothorax 

 slightly wider than long, only just visibly wider than the head, a little nar- 

 rower than the elytra, widest anteriorly, where the sides are subprominently 

 rounded, the median line feebly impressed basally; elytra not quite as long 

 as wide, distinctly longer than the prothorax; abdomen much narrower than 

 the elytra, parallel and linear, the fifth tergite longer than the fourth; middle 

 coxae subcontiguous, the mesosternum short, the metasternum transverse, only 

 very slightly subangulate medially; hind tarsi rather short, the four basal 

 joints equal. Length 1.7 mm.; width 0.31 mm. California (Fisk's Mill, 

 Sonoma Co.). 



This species and the following will also have to be removed 

 ultimately and placed near Atheta, but I leave them here for the 

 present because of their slender linear form, short metasternum and 

 other characters that suggest Hydrosmecta. 



