AMERICAN COLEOPTERA. 135 



B. pusio Lee. — Smaller than lucidus with the thorax more narrowed at base 

 and the hind angles less distinct. The elytra are not longer than the head and 

 thorax, the sides distinctly arcuate. The median line of thorax is also much less 

 impressed. Length .08 inch; 2 mm. 



This is the smallest member of the truncatipenne series in our fauna. 



Occurs from Ohio to Texas. 



METABLETITS Sehmidt-Goebel. 

 This genus contains in our fauna but one species. The thorax is 

 slightly lobed at base, the-mentum with a small emarginate toqth, the 

 claws serrate. The ligula is moderately prominent, elongate-oval, with 

 five short setae in front and four at the tip, the intermediate two short 

 the outer two long. The paraglossae are broad, a little longer than 

 the ligula but closely united with it, obtuse at tip and not passing in 

 front of the ligula. 



M. americamis Dej. — Black, shining, with an extremely faint seneous 

 tinge. Head smooth, shining. Thorax a little less than twice as wide as long, 

 sides arcuate in front, slightly sinuate posteriorly, hind angles distinct, not 

 prominent, margin very narrow, disc slightly convex, median line rather deeply 

 impressed, not entire, surface smooth, shining, slightly opaque along the base. 

 Elytra oval, scarcely wider posteriorly, apex distinctly truncate, disc very vaguely 

 substriate, two dorsal punctures very faint. Body beneath almost entirely smooth. 

 Length .10— .12 inch; 2.5—3 mm. 



Male. — Anterior tarsi with three joints moderately dilated and feebly biseriately 

 lamellate beneath. Anal segment entire with one seta each side. 



Female. — Tarsi slender. Anal segment as in male. 



This species bears considerable resemblance to Blechrus nigrinus 

 but the generic characters readily distinguish it. I do not find that 

 M. borealis Zimm. differs essentially from americanus. 



This insect is found from Vermont to British Columbia and northward 

 to Hudson's Bay Territory. 



AXINOPAL.PUS Lee. 



Mentum emarginate, distinctly toothed. Ligula (proper) triangular, 

 bisetose at apex, the paraglossse narrow and bordering it in front, the 

 palpi rather thick the last joint oval subsecuriform, the maxillary palpi 

 slender and long, the terminal joint cylindrical and acutely prolonged 

 at tip. Thorax truncate at base. Tarsal claws distinctly serrate in 

 biplagiatus or very indistinctly in fusciceps. 



It will be observed that this genus differs in many important particulars 

 from each of the Dromiide genera which precede and from all of them 

 collectively by the form of the palpi. The ungues have been called 

 simple in fusciceps but an examination shows the base of each claw 

 to have rarely more than one serration while in. biplagiatus there are 

 two or three. 



