192 COLEOPTERA OF NORTH AMERICA. 



united witli the front; mandibles arcuate, acute at tip, not promi- 

 nent. Anterior coxte without trochantin, middle coxse rounded, 

 without trochantin, posterior coxse flat, without free plate. Legs 

 moderate, middle and posterior trochanters long, the last nearly 

 as long as the femora. Tibial spurs small. Ungues pectinate 

 at basal half, ape.x simple. 



The genus Cerophytura forms this sub-family. It has been 

 included by de Bonvouloir in the EucneraidfE, while Lacordaire 

 (Genera IV) considered it the type of a distinct family. There 

 seems to be but little doubt, from the opinions of these and other 

 authoi's, that Cerophytum is a very aberrant genus, too n)uch so 

 to be considered a true Eucnemine, but without differences of 

 sufficient moment to be considered a family by itself It seems 

 to indicate a line of affinity between the Eucneminie and the 

 Dascyllida9. 



Two species of Cerophytum occur in our fauna, C. pulsator 

 Hald. in the Atlantic region, C. convexicolle Lee. in California. 

 They are very rare. 



Fam. XLII.-THROSCIDAE. 



Mentum small, narrowed in front; ligula membranous, not 

 prominent; palpi short, 8-jointed. 



Maxillse exposed at the base, with two lobes, inner one 

 very small; palpi 4-jointed. 



Antennse inserted on the front, received in grooves extend- 

 ing along the inferior margin of the prothoracic flanks, 

 1 1 -jointed ; sometimes serrate, sometimes with a loose serrate 

 3-jointed club. 



Head immersed in the thorax to the eyes, which are ellip- 

 tical ; mouth inferior, applied to the prosternum ; mandibles 

 small; labrum prominent. 



Prothorax with the side pieces not separate, deepl}^ sulcate 

 along the sternal suture, for the reception of the antenn£e; 

 coxal cavities small, open behind, being completed by the 

 mesosternum; prosternum with an anterior rounded lobe 

 protecting the mouth, prolonged behind into a flat process 

 received in the mesosternum. 



Mesosternum short, excavated in the middle for the pro- 

 sternum, completing on each side the anterior coxal cavities; 

 side pieces very transverse, attaining the coxa?. 



Metasternum with the side pieces very narrow. 



