PYTIIIDAE. 403 



Of Pytho three species are known in our fauna ; the other genera 

 are represented by one species in eacli. One species of Pytho ex- 

 tends from Maine and Canada to Alaska, as does also Priogna- 

 tlius; Crymodes is found from Canada to British Columbia. 



Tribe II.— CO^fOJVOTliVI. 



Head prominent, obtuse ; metasternum sliort, hind margin 

 almost straight, wings none; intercoxal process of abdomen very 

 broad; middle coxa? nearly contiguous, closely embraced by the 

 sterna, without trochantin; mandibles scarcely visible beyond the 

 labrum ; anterior coxa3 small, conical, contiguous; tibial spurs 

 very small. 



This tribe consists of the genus Cononotus, of which three 

 species are found under stones in California; they are slender, 

 pale brown, finely pubescent insects of small size, having the 

 thornx elongated, and regularly conical in form, and much nar- 

 rowed behind; the lateral suture is nearly effaced, though still 

 capable of being traced ; the maxillary palpi are very long, and 

 the last joint is large and triangular. 



It is very difficult to indicate the affinities of this genus; it 

 seems to be equally out of place in any family. It was formerly 

 considered as allied to Apocrypha, of the Tenebrionidge, a view 

 adopted by Lacordaire ; but the open anterior coxal cavities 

 forbid such an association. The first and second ventral segments 

 appear to be connate; should dissection confirm this observation, 

 it will point very strongly towards tlie reception of the genus as 

 a separate family. 



Tribe III.— SALPIXGIXI. 



Head prominent, front flattened, prolonged more or less into a 

 broad beak; last joint of maxillary palpi not dilated; metasternum 

 long, body winged, intercoxal process of abdomen acute; middle 

 coxae embraced l)y the sterna, without trochantin; mandibles not 

 visible beyond the labrum ; anterior coxa? conical, contiguous. 



This triije consists of species of small size; the genera are 

 represented on both sides of the continent. 



Beak brorxl. and very short. Salpingus. 



Beak prolonged, Rhiuosimus. 



