450 bulletin: museum of comparative zoology. 



metathorax with shallow, rather fine punctures, visible only in cer- 

 tain lights, abdominal segments more finely punctulate and with 

 short hairs. Legs wanting. Length as preserved, to tip of abdomen, 

 7 mm., in life somewhat less since the body is abnormally distended. 



Described from one specimen. 



Type.— No. 2,519 M. C. Z. Florissant, Col. (No. 7,651 S. H. 

 Scudder Coll.) 



There seems to be no way of separating this insect from Necrobia 

 except on the basis of the less pronounced antennal club and I do not 

 feel justified in founding a new genus on this one character. The 

 coxal and abdominal structures, as well as the size and facies, agree 

 with Necrobia. The punctuation of the underside is less conspicuous 

 in the fossil. The exposed elytral epipleura shows fairly strong 

 punctures. 



PTINIDAE. 



Ernobius effetus, sp. nov. 

 Plate 6, fig. 1. 



Form moderately elongate, subparallel in side view. Head fairly 

 large, eye elliptical, antennae wanting. Prothorax probably damaged 

 along the back but as preserved the dorsal surface is not arched , the 

 apex projects over the head but not sufficiently to entirely conceal it 

 from above. Elytra with only very faint signs of shallow striae 

 visible in certain lights. Legs short and fairly slender. Length, 

 from front of pronotum to elytral apex, 4 mm. 



Described from one specimen. 



Type— No. 2,520 M. C. Z. Florissant, Col. (No. 2,647 S. H. 

 Scudder Coll.). It is probable that No. 2,521 M. C. Z. (No. 9,440 

 S. H. Scudder Coll.), is the same species. 



The sculpture of the surface of this insect is extremely fine and visi- 

 ble only under high power. It consists of a minute but close and some- 

 times confluent punctuation, stronger on the prothorax, the meso- and 

 metasternal side-pieces and the base of the elytra. In size, the present 

 species is about equal to the recent E. mollis which is similar in form 

 and sculpture. These characters offer the only basis for the generic 

 reference. 



Xestobium alutaceum Wickham. 



One good specimen. No. 2,522 M. C. Z. (No. 7,500 S. H. Scudder 

 Coll.), about .25 mm. shorter than the type. 



