NORTH AMERICAN COLEOPTERA. 309 



Owing to the neglect of the species of this tribe this one has been 

 retained in Cercyon, an error very properly corrected by Bedel. 

 Occurs from Alaska southward to the region about San Francisco. 



M. piiiictulatuin n. sp. — Oval, convex, slightly narrowed posteriorly, pi- 

 ceous black, shining. Antennse and palpi rufo-testaceous, the former with darker 

 clnb. Head and thorax densely puuctulate. Elytra closely punctate, more 

 coarsely than the thorax, the first and second strife very faintly indicated, the 

 outer three striae short, distinctly impressed, coarsely punctate. Body beneath 

 piceous, shining, metathorax coarsely, but not closely punctate, the punctures 

 finer posteriorly. Legs rufopiceous. Length .07 inch. ; 1.75 mm. 



In its superficial aspect this insect resembles a small member of 

 the Sphseridium series of genera. The punctuation of the greater 

 part of the elytral surface is close and confused, with scarcely any 

 trace of striae, except at the sides. The differences between this spe- 

 cies and posticatum are well marked in their sculpture and scarcely 

 need mention here. 



One specimen, Bayou Sara, La. Given me by Mr. E. A. Schwarz. 



PEMEL,US* n. g. 



Prosternum elevated between the coxae and rather widely sepa- 

 rating them, forming an irregular quadrate area, which is abruptly 

 narrowed in front, and rather deeply emarginate behind to receive 

 the apes of the mesosternum, on each side of the prostei'num in 

 front an oblique tubercular elevation. Mesosternal plate elongate, 

 pentagonal in form, rather widely separating the middle coxae and 

 prolonged in front into the apex of the prosternum and partly cov- 

 ering the front legs at their base. Metasternum not prolonged be- 

 tween the coxae, separated from the mesosternum by a very indistinct 

 suture. Anterior tibias as in normal Cercyon, without emargination 

 at a[)ex. Characters otherwise as in that genus. 



Finding it impossible to associate the species described as Mega- 

 sternum costatum Lee with any of the genera which have been pro- 

 posed the above name is suggested. It seems in many respects in- 

 termediate between Oryptopleurwn and Megasternmn, but lacks the 

 inflexed sides of the pronotum of the former and the deeply emar- 

 ginate front tibiae of the latter, at the same time the sternal pieces 

 are quite different from any of the genera which have been proposed. 



The oblique line which is prolonged from the metasternal area in 

 several species of Cercyon and other genera, has here its fullest de- 



Name without classical derivation. 



