12 PROGEEDI>'GS OF THE NATIONAL ilUSEUJI vol. 8» 



with three large teeth, the upper two of which are close togetlier 

 without an intercalated denticle, middle and hind tibiae each with a 

 trace of an oblique ridge, tarsi short and stout, claws verj' small. 

 Length: 3 mm. 



Type cmd paratypes. — U.S.X.M. Xo. 53319. 



Type locality. — ^Mayaguez, Puerto Kico. 



Material examined. — Three specimens taken at the type locality on 

 January 6, 1937 (Blackwelder station 358) ; one specimen from 

 Anasoo, Puerto Rico, October 25, 1935, by R. G. Oakley (San Juan 

 Xo. 6369) . All specimens were taken in rotting wood. 



Genus ATAEXIUS Harold, 1867 



Ataenius Harold. IS^J", Coleopterologlsche Hefre. vol. 1. p. 82; vol. 2. p. 1(». — 

 Schmidt, 1922, Das Tierreicli, pars 45, Aphodiinae, p. 413. 



Type of genus: Afaenius scuteUaris Harold, 1867 (by monotypy). 



While this genus is usually cited as from page 1(X) of the second 

 part of the Coleopterologische Hefte, it was actually established on 

 page 82 of the first part. Fortunately there appears no conflict in 

 usage in the two places. An earlier name, Auperia Duval, is not 

 available as it is an intended emendation of Euparia Lepeletier and 

 •Serville and therefore takes the same type as that genus. 



The species of Ataenius are mostly inhabitants of the Tropics or 

 the Southern Hemisphere. A few are found in North America and 

 a very few enter the Palaearctic region. The habits of the various 

 species are somewhat diverse, some being attracted to the excrements 

 of higher animals and some living beneath vegetable debris. 



KEY TO WEST INDIAN SFECIES OF ATAENIUS 



L Pygidioxn without acute transverse carina, apical portion convex 

 and polished ; civpeal margin in fresh .specimens obtusely den- 

 ticulate each side of median emargination : integnments strongly 

 shin i ng; femora, metastemum, and abdominal stemites 



impunctate 1. haroldi .Steinheil 



Transverse carina acutely raised, joined at ends to marginal 

 carina; apical i)ortion (enclosed by these carinae) concave and 

 strongly alutac-eons , 2 



2. Clypeal margin di.stinctly denticulate each side of median emar- 



gination; integuments duU 3 



Clypeal margin broadly rounded each side of median emargina- 



3. Posterior femur with a deep groove extending along entire pos- 



terior margin 4 



Posterior femur without grove or with feeble groove near in.ser- 



tion of tibia 5 



4- Punctures on frons nearly uniform in size ; punctures on pronotum 



moderately c-oarse, neither crowded nor confluent 2. steinheili Harold 



