78 COLEOPTERA OF NORTH AMERICA. 



Sub-Family II.— MTTRMIDIIDAE. 



This sub-family consists of but a single, species, Ifurmidius 

 ovalis (Geuthocerus advena Germar), diffused by commerce over 

 the whole globe ; it is a very minute, brown, slightly pubescent 

 insect, of a rounded, depressed form, with rows of large punctures 

 on the elytra. 



The antennae have but ten joints; the first joint is large and 

 thick, the second somewhat narrower; the club is received in a 

 cavity excavated at the anterior angle of the thorax ; the anterior 

 coxae are globose ; the presternum is very wide, flat, and its an- 

 terior lobe is very short; the mesosternum is very wide, truncate 

 in front, fitting closely to the presternum ; elytra rounded at tip, 

 entirely covering the dorsal segments of the abdomen. 



This insect is very rare. I have seen but two specimens found 

 in this country, and for the one in my possession I am indebted 

 to Mr. Ulke. It is said by European authors to live in old rice. 



Fam. xil— scaphidiidae. 



Mentum large, quadrate ; ligula membranous, without 

 paraglossia; palpi 3-jointecl. 



Maxilla? exposed at the base, with two membranous lobes ; 

 palpi short, 4-jointed, with the last joint conical. 



Antennae inserted at the margin of the front, which is sud- 

 denly contracted and prolonged into a short beak, capillary, 

 or slightly clavate, the last five or six joints wider than 

 the preceding ones, the eighth sometimes smaller than the 

 seventh and ninth, the first and second thicker than the third. 



Prothorax with the side pieces not separate; presternum 

 not prolonged; coxal cavities rounded, widely open behind, 

 completed by the mesosternum. 



Mesosternum frequently prominent or carinate, side pieces 

 usually divided by an oblique line; metasternum very large, 

 side pieces narrow, epimera not visible. 



Elytra broadly truncate behind, not covering entirely the 

 abdomen. 



Abdomen with five free ventral segments ; the fifth conical,' 

 as long as the three preceding ones ; sixth usually visible, 

 and when emarginate, as in certain males, permitting the 



