OTUNllDAE. 391 



Fam. LXI— othniidae. 



Mentum trapezoidal, truncate in front; ligula corneous, 

 with distinct paraglossai; palpi cylindrical, cJ-jointed, third 

 joint longer than the others. 



Maxillas exposed at base, bilobed, the lobes broad, obtuse 

 and ciliate at tip, the inner shorter, membranous, the outer 

 semi-corneous; palpi 4-jointed, cylindrical, the last joint 

 larger than the others. 



Mandibles short, arcuate, bifid at tip, and bidentate on 

 the inner edge. 



Antennee inserted under the sides of the front, before the 

 eyes, 11-jointed, first joint thicker than the following, third 

 longer than the first and second together, 9-11 broader, 

 forming a loosely articulated club. 



Head large and flat, sides of the front oblique in front of 

 the eyes; labrum very short, closely articulated with the 

 front, ciliate anteriorly; mandibles short, emarginate at tip; 

 eyes large, prominent, finely granulated. 



Prothorax quadrate, not wider than the head, feebly 

 serrate on the sides, with the angles rounded; side pieces 

 not distinct; coxal cavities small, rounded, confluent, closed 

 behind. 



Mesosternuni .short, narrow; side pieces divided by an 

 almost longitudinal suture. 



Metasternum moderate, side pieces narrow. 



Elytra elongate, rounded at tip, leaving the tip of the 

 abdomen uncovered; scutellum small, triangular. 



Abdomen with five free ventral segments, slightly dimi- 

 nishing in length, the posterior margins semi-membranous. 



Coxie, anterior small, conical, prominent, and contiguous; 

 middle ones rounded, prominent, slightly separated bv the 

 mesosternum; hind ones transverse, not prominent, slightly 

 separated, extending to the sides of the body. 



Legs slender; tibiae linear, with minute terminal spurs; 

 tarsi slender, tolerably long, joints diminishing in length, 

 pilose beneath, anterior and middle 5-jointed, hind ones 

 4-jointed; claws simple. 



Formerly placed by us in tlie Chrvicorn series, the discovery 

 of additional material, in which both sexes are represented, seems 

 to indicate the necessity of placing the family in the Ileteromer- 

 ous series. The tarsi in both sexes are truly heteromerous, and 

 tlie margins of the ventral segments semi-nK'nibi-anous as in the 



