Casey — Observations on the Staphylinidae. 169 



latter extremely finely, rather closely but indistinctly punctate through- 

 out, the elytra more shining, finely but distinctly, subasperately, evenly 

 and closely punctured, the abdomen strongly shining, finely, somewhat 

 closely punctured, becoming gradually very sparsely so posteriorly; 

 head orbicular, three-fourths as wide as the prothorax, the antennae 

 stout, only feebly incrassate distally, the second joint distinctly shorter 

 than the third, the tenth about a third wider than long, the eleventh 

 rather narrower than the tenth, somewhat shorter than the two preced - 

 ing|combined and feebly pyriform; prothorax very slightly wider than 

 long, the apex but little narrower than the base, the sides evenly and 

 rather strongly arcuate, the basal angles obtuse but distinct; elytra 

 very short and transverse, the sides very much shorter than the. sides of 

 the prothorax, the suture barely three-fifths as long as the median line; 

 abdomen not quite as wide as the elytra, parallel, arcuately narrowed 

 toward tip, the latter not at all paler in color; hind tarsi shorter than 

 the tibiae, the basal joint less than one-half longer than the second, 

 three-fourths as long as the fifth, two to four equal in length. Male 

 with the ventral spines short and slender, the two sets of three separ- 

 ated by an unusually wide interval, this being equal to the width of 

 either set. Length 7.0 ram. ; width 1.7 mm. Arizona (Benson). 



decipiens n. sp. 



Prothorax transverse, strongly and continuously rounded at the sides and 

 base, the angles subobsolete, black, the abdomen rufous at tip, the two 

 sets of male abdominal spinules separated by a much narrower interval 

 than in the preceding 4 



i — Mesosternal process very broad, its apex broadly, almost evenly arcuate 

 and received in a broadly arcuate impression in the usually still broader 

 tip of the metasternum. Body very stout; elytra, legs and antennae 

 deep black; head rounded, three- fifths as wide as the prothorax, feebly, 

 sparsely punctate and opaque; antennae as long as the two together, 

 very stout, the second joint much shorter than the third, the tenth fully 

 one-half wider than long; prothorax two-fifths wider than long, opa- 

 que, with very fine and rather sparse, indistinct punctures and short, 

 suberect, blackish hairs; elytra well developed, at the sides as long as 

 the sides of the prothorax, the suture three- fourths as long as the med- 

 dian line, the punctures very fine, only moderately close-set, shallow 

 and indistinct; abdomen at base as wide as the elytra, the segments 

 finely punctured but only in apical half, rather closely on the basal, 

 sparsely on the apieal, tergites; hind tarsi stout, scarcely two-thirds 

 as long as the tibiae, the basal joint about a third longer than the 

 second and but little more than half as long as the fifth. Length 

 9.0-11.0 mm.; width 2.3-2.8 mm. California (near Los Angeles). 



ralida Lee. 



Mesosternal process less broad, with its sides more rapidly converging, as 

 a rule, the tip narrower and less rounded though variably so. Body 

 less stout, the antennae and legs slightly piceous; head orbicular, two- 

 thirds as wide as the prothorax, feebly, sparsely punctate, impunctate 

 toward the middle anteriorly as in valida, opaque; antennae less stout, 

 barely as long as the head and prothorax, the second joint much shorter 

 than the third, the tenth distinctly less than one -half wider than long, 



