MELANDUYIDAE. 395 



El3'tra rounded at tip, covering the abdomen; epipleurge 

 narrow; wings perfect. 



Abdomen with five free ventral segments, the anterior two 

 sometimes more closely connected; intercoxal process small. 



Legs moderate or long, slender; anterior coxie large and 

 oval when separated, conical and prominent when contigu- 

 ous, sometimes with trochantin; middle coxie with distinct 

 trochantin, sometimes nearly contiguous; hind coxae trans- 

 verse, contiguous, or nearly so; tibial spurs distinct; front 

 and middle tarsi 5-jointed, hind tarsi 4-jointed; the penul- 

 timate joint frequently emarginate ; claws simple in the first 

 three tribes, cleft or appendiculate in the others. 



'J'his family contains a moderate number of species found under 

 bark, or in fungi. Tlie form is generally elongate, and the thorax 

 is usually marked with two basal impressions; the first joint of 

 the hind tarsi is always much elongated. 



Six tribes are separated in the following manner: — 



Tarsal claws simple ; 



Autennaj with the last four joints suddenly larger. Tetkatomini. 



Antennae gradually thickened or filiform ; 



Head not constricted behind. Melandryini. 



Head constricted into a small neck. Sceaptiixi. 



Tarsal claws cleft to the base. Stexotrachelisi. 



Tarsal claws broadly appendiculate at base ; 



Anterior cox« with distinct trochantin ; middle coxje open externally. 



NOTHIXI. 



Anterior coxae without trochantin ; middle coxae inclosed by the sterna. 



Mycterixi. 



Tribe I.— TETRATOWIINl. 



This tribe is constituted of but a single genus Tetratoma, of 

 which two species are found in the Atlantic States in fungi; they 

 are oval and convex; ttie palpi are short, not much dilated; the 

 anteuHEe are 11-jointed, with the last four joints equal in size, and 

 each is about three times as long as any of the preceding ones; 

 the tibial spurs are small, the penultimate tarsal joint not lobed, 

 and the claws simple; the co.xie ai'e not contiguous but separated 

 liy their respective sterna. 



Tribe ir.— IW[EI.A]%^I>RY11VI. 



The outer joints of the antenna) are not suddenly larger, and 

 the claws are simple; according to the position of the coxix) the 



