84 COLEOPTERA OF NORTH AMERICA. 



rior coxa3 small, conical, widely separated (prominent and 

 approximated in Brathinus). 



• Legs moderate, thighs usually clavate, tarsi 5-jointed, 

 claws simple. 



These are small, shining, usually ovate, sometimes slender 

 insects, of a brown color, more or less clothed with erect hairs. 

 They are found variously, near water, under stones, in ants' nests, 

 and under bark, and are frequently seen flying in the twilight. 



The general form is that of Pselaphidae, from which they differ 

 by the long elytra and the conical distant posterior coxse. 



Our genera are : — 



Last joint of maxillary palpi longer than tlie preceding. Posterior coxa; 



prominent internally. 5. 



Last joint of maxillary palpi narrow, subulate. 2. 



Last joint of maxillary palpi obtusely pointed, indistinct. 3. 



2. Antennae at the anterior margin of front, approximate. Chevrolatia. 

 Antennae under the sides of front near the eyes. Scydmcenus. 



3. Antennae straight. 4. 

 Antennae geniculate, first joint ei^ual to the two following. Eumicrus. 



4. Pygidium covered. 



Prothorax oval. Cholerus. 



Prothorax transverse, wider than the elytra. Cephennium. 



Pygidium exposed. 



Prothorax quadrate, elytra truncate at tip. Euthia. 



5. Antennae somewhat distant from the eyes, arising under a slight frontal 



margin. 

 Elytra subtruncate. Brathinus. 



Microstemma Lee. is the same as Eumicrus Lap. ; Eumicrus 

 Lee. is Cholerus Thomson. These two genera with Cephennium 

 and Brathinus are represented in the Atlantic region only. The 

 other three genera occur on both sides of the continent. 



Fam. XIL— pselaphidae. 



Mentum small, corneous, more or less quadrate; ligula 

 very small, membranous, with large diverging paraglossas ; 

 labial palpi very small. 



Maxillae with membranous ciliated lobes, the outer much 

 larger than the inner; palpi usually very long, and 4-jointed. 



Mandibles usually broad and short, with the tip curved 

 and acute. 



