306 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 



FAMILY BALLOPHILID^E. 



It was the occasion of considerable surprise to collect, on Sugar 

 Loaf Key, a member of this family, as yet known only from 

 Tropical Africa. The West African Ballophilus clavicornis 

 (plate V, fig. 3) is an inhabitant of the dense forests of Liberia. 

 It is unique among known Geophiloidea in being nearly black or 

 deep violet in color. It now r appears that this peculiarity is shared 

 by other members of the family, undescribed forms from Vene 

 zuela and Mexico being in my possession, in addition to the 

 specimens from the Keys. The genus Taeniolinum Pocock, from 

 St. Vincent, is also probably referable to this family. These 

 forms may be separated by means of the foil/owing synopsis : 



" Antennae very short and stout . . . their segments wider than long 

 . . . number of pairs of legs 49": Genus Taeniolinum, type T. setosum, 

 St. Vincent. 



Antennae slender, more or less distinctly clavate, at least the proximal 

 joints longer than wide ; number of pairs of legs above 60 



Ventral pores in a transversely elliptical, definite area which is strongly 

 chitinized and distinctly projects beyond the remainder of the surface; 

 coxae of prehensorial legs without chitinous lines : Genus Ballophilus, 

 type B. clavicornis. Liberia. 



Ventral pores in subcircular areas which are scarcely prominent; coxae 

 of prehensorial legs with chitinous lines 



Ventral pores in a single median area; antennae strongly clavate : Genus 

 Ityphilus, type 7. lilacinus sp. n., Sugar Loaf Key. 



Ventral pores in two areas; antennae subfiliform : Genus Diplethmus, 

 type D. mexicanus sp. n. (plate V, fig. 2), Mexico. 



ITYPHILUS, new genus. 



Closely related to Ballophilus, but differing in the much smaller 

 size and more slender habit, in having the ventral pores in a small 

 circular area, which is not definitely chitinized, and in having 

 the coalesced c >xae of the prehensorial legs provided with chiti 

 nous sulci. 



ITYPHILUS LILACINUS, new species. 

 (Plate V, figs, la-ic). 



Type. U. S. Nat. Museum, No. 777. 

 Locality. Sugar Loaf Key. 



Length 30 mm., width .7 mm., pairs of legs of male 71. 

 Color of living specimens pale brownish pink or lilac; in alcohol the 

 color fades to a pale creamy tint. 



