190 COLEOPTERA OF NORTH AMERICA. 



The species I refer doubtfully to Lobetus is Malthinus abclomi- 

 nalis Lee, but the specimen is in very bad condition. 



Of these genera Malthodes alone has yet occurred on the 

 Pacific slope. 



Fam.XLL— mala chid ae. 



Mentura small, quadrate, corneous; ligula prominent; 

 palpi 3-jointed. 



Maxillae exposed at the base, with two unarmed lobes ; 

 palpi moderately long, 4-jointed. 



Antennas inserted upon the front at the sides, generally 

 before the eyes; usually serrate, and 11. -jointed. 



Head exserted, prolonged into a short broad beak; eyes 

 rounded (emarginate in some foreign genera); mandibles 

 small; labrum distinct; epistoma separated from the front 

 by a transverse suture, and frequently, in whole or in part, 

 membranous. 



Prothorax not foliaceous at the sides ; prosternum short, 

 not extending between the coxae; coxal cavities large, trans- 

 verse, open behind. 



Mesosternum short, oblique, flat, side pieces attaining the 



COX83. 



Metasternum short, side pieces usually wide, epimera 

 scarcely visible. 



Elytra sometimes entire, sometimes abbreviated. 



Abdomen with six free ventral segments; the sixth indis- 

 tinct in some genera of the second tribe. 



Anterior coxae large, conical, contiguous, with distinct 

 trochantin; middle coxae contiguous, conical, prominent; 

 posterior coxae transverse, conical, and prominent internally; 

 not covered by the thighs. 



Legs moderately long, slender; tibiae with indistinct ter- 

 minal spurs; tarsi 5-jointed (the anterior ones in the males 

 of certain foreign genera, 4-jointed), filiform; the fourth joint 

 entire (except in a few foreign genera); claws usually each 

 with a large inferior membranous appendage. 



This family was first established by Erichson, under the name 

 Melyridae, and though considered by Lacordaire as only a por- 

 tion of his family Malacodermes, it appears to me fully capable of 

 taking rank as distinct. The different position of the antennae, 

 and the presence of the separate piece between the labrum and 

 the front, distinguish it from the Lampyridoe, as herein defined. 



