456 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 



length of the elytral strias, and as the species of this genus 

 are numerous and rather local, the probabilities are de- 

 cidedly against the formation of a synonym. 



Biotus formicarius u. gen. Tyohus bipuncticeps. 



Pytna corticiua n. geix Actium pallidum. 

 Batrisus cephalotes. politum. 



luculentus. robiistulum. 



foveicornis. testaceum. 



punctifrons. Euplectus californicus. 



Decarthron Brendeli. Khexidius granulosus n. gen. 



Bryaxis arizonas. Oropus moutanus. 



Nisaxis cincinnata. Sonoma corticina. 

 maritima. cavifrons 



Tychus sonomse 



BIOTUS n. gen. (Ctenistides.) 



Clypeus simple. Body covered densely with very minute, recumbent 

 setfe. Antennae elongate, cylindrical, outer joints not enlarged, second 

 joint smallest. Head with two spongiose fovefe; frontal tubercle divided, 

 the canaliculation extending slightly along the front. Prothorax transverse, 

 with longer, more erect and denser pubescence, trifoveate at base, the foveas 

 large, spongiose, not connected. Elytra with deeply impressed sutural and 

 one long discal stria. Abdomen without ridges; second visible dorsal longer 

 than the first. Posterior coxas separated. Trochanters normal. 



The maxillary palpi are very short, robust and compact; 

 the second joint is somewhat slender, but short; the last 

 two are transverse, anchylosed, forming a circular club 

 which is affixed obliquely to the second joint. No basal 

 joint is visible, and the palpi may possibly be three-jointed. 

 The genus should be placed near Ceophyllus Lee. from 

 which it differs in the remarkably minute and singular palpi. 

 It may be easily identified by its non-clavate antennae with 

 the"second joint small. 



B. formicarius n. sp, — Rather robust, pale testaceo-ferruginous through- 

 out; integuments shining; pubesceuce dense, rather long and erect on the 

 head and prothorax, very short and recumbent on the elytra and abdomen; 

 not perceptibly punctate. Head not much depressed, slightly longer than 

 wide; clypeus rounded, conical; labrum very short, strongly transverse; 



