1865.] 421 



scence. Elytra a little longer than the thorax, densely and distinctly 

 punctured, shining, rufous, basal third fuscous, densely pubescent. 

 Abdomen sparsely punctured, clothed with a long, fine, sparse pube- 

 anus concolorous. Legs testaceous. — Erkhson. 



Group II. — Gyrophsenae. — Internal lobe of the maxillae membranous internally 

 and ciliate. Eyes prominent; third joint of maxillary palpi thickened. 



The species of this group are small, of an oval form, much broader 

 than those of the previous group, and are easily distinguished by the 

 prominent eyes, and by the third joint of the maxillary palpi being 

 thickened. They live exclusively in fungi and are gregarious; they 

 are remarkable for the smooth shining surface, almost destitute of hairs 

 or punctures. The anterior tarsi are 4-jointed, and the middle and 

 posterior ones 5-jointed ; the first joint of the hind tarsi is elongated; 

 the thorax is distinctly margined. The labial palpi have but two joints. 

 Our species belong to Gi/rophsena, which is distinguished from the 

 other genera of the group by the entire ligula, and the very short se- 

 cond joint of the labial palpi. — LeConte. 



Genus 15.— GYR0FH2ENA, Mann. 



1. Gyrophaena vinula, Erich. 



Gyrophcena vinula, Erich. Staph, p. 186. Lee. Say's Writings, ii, p. 585. 

 Aleochara fasciata, Say, Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. iv, p. 469. 



Yellow; head, band of the elytra, and spot on the tergum, black. 



Hub. — Pennsylvania. 



Body yellow, with a slight rufous tinge; head black piceous, with 

 rather large punctures each side towards the eyes; eyes large, promi- 

 nent; mouth dull yellowish; antennas at base pale yellow; thorax 

 sparsely and unequally punctured, with four somewhat larger, remote 

 punctures on the disk ; elytra punctures small, not deeply impressed ; 

 posterior half blackish ; tergum with a black dot near the tip ; feet 

 whitish. 



Length about one-twelfth of an inch. — Say. 



2. Gyrophaena dissimilis, Erich. 



Gyrophcena dissimilis, Erich. Staph, p. 186. 7. 



Piceous; head black; thorax, elytra, base of abdomen, antennae and 

 legs, testaceous; thorax margined, sparsely punctured; elytra either 

 sparsely punctured or finely granulated. Length 1 line. 



Hob. — Carolina. 



Antennas as long as the head and thorax, second joint rather thick, 

 third joint a little shorter and much thinner, fourth joint twice shorter 



