306 GEO. H. HORN. 



flat on the disc, convex at apex, and alternately subcostiform, the surface ex- 

 tremely minutely, sparsely puuctulate. Body beneath a little darker than above, 

 subopaque, metasternal area shining, sparsely punctate. Mesosternal elevation 

 elongate oval, acute in front, truncate posteriorly. Prosternum rather strongly 

 carinate. Legs rufo-testaceous. Length .06 inch. ; 1.5 mm. 



This is the smallest species of the genus known to me. The pu- 

 bescence of the surface is quite. sparse and easily removed, so that 

 many specimens seem deprived of it, except on the thorax, where 

 it seems njore persistent. The elytral strite are relatively more deeply 

 impressed than in any other species, and the subcostiform apical in- 

 tervals are peculiar to it. The mesosternal plate is not very unlike 

 that seen in granarhis. This form seems to lead from Cercyon slightly 

 to Cryptopleurum, but I can find no valid characters separating it 

 from Cercyon. 



Occurs from the Middle States region to Tennessee, often abun- 

 dantly in dried horse dung. 



PEL.OSOMA Muls. 



Prosternum scarcely separating the anterior coxaj, carinate on the 

 median line in front of them. Mesosternum elevated between the 

 middle coxaa in the form of a pentagonal plate (PI. ix, fig. 8) and 

 rather widely separating them, the base of the pentagon meeting a 

 very short prolongation of the raetasternum and very closely united 

 with it. Tibite feebly spinulose on the outer edge, the anterior pair 

 entire as in Cercyon. 



The above characters seem to indicate the validity of Pelosoma as 

 a genus apart from Cercyon, although most authors since Mulsant 

 have seemed unwilling to admit it. In every other respect the char- 

 acters are those of Cercyon. It will be observed from the figure 

 (PI. ix, fig. 25) that the pseudo-basal joint of the maxillary palpus 

 is less pedunculate at base and far less infiated at apex, but this 

 member is slightly variable in Cercyon, and to a degree which makes 

 it unsafe to be insisted upon as a valuable difiierence. 



One species is known in our southwestern regions which Dr. Le- 

 Conte properly referred to this genus. 



P. CStpillatiiili Lee. — Regularly oval, convex, piceous black, shining; sur- 

 face very sparsely ])ubescent. Antennse and palpi pale rufo-testaceous. Head 

 rather finely, not closely punctate. Thorax narrowed from base to apex, the 

 sides regularly arcuate, basal marginal line wanting, a faint ante-basal impression 

 opposite the base of the fourth elytral stria, surface sparsely finely jiunctate, in- 

 tervals smooth. Elytra with ten series of rather fine, not closely placed punc- 



