2G0 COLEOPTERA OF NORTH AMERICA. 



Mesosternum acute ; side pieces reaching the coxal cavi- 

 ties, which are confluent ; nietasternum long, side pieces 

 narrow. 



Elytra gradually narrowed from the base, as long as the 

 abdomen; epipleurae narrow but distinct, not extending to 

 the tip. 



Abdomen with six free ventral segments, the 6th short, 

 deeply emarginate in the male, permitting the 7th to be seen. 



Les^s long and slender ; anterior and middle coxae large, 

 conical, contiguous, with distinct trochantins ; hind coxae 

 slightly oblique, prominent, concave behind near the tip ; 

 tibial spurs long, slender ; tarsi filiform, pubescent beneath ; 

 claws pectinate, each with a large appendage, as long as the 

 claw itself, and obtusely rounded at the tip. 



The characters above given are sufficient to show that the 

 genus Cephaloon should rank as a distinct family. It was placed 

 by Newman, who first described it in (Edemeridae, by myself in 

 Meloidae, and more recently by Motschulsky in Melandryidae. 

 None of these positions will, in my opinion, be found correct. From 

 the Meloidae it differs by the thorax being as broad at base as the 

 elytra, as well as by the different form of the head. From Me- 

 landryidae it differs not only by the head being constricted at 

 base, but by the lateral suture of the prosternum being wanting, 

 and by the greater number of ventral segments. Its resemblance 

 to CEdemeridae is more decided, though from them it is at once 

 distinguished by the head being constricted at base, as well as by 

 the peculiar form of the claws. 



One species, Cephaloon lepturides Newman (var. C. varians) 

 Hald., is found on plants in the Northern States and in Canada. 

 Two Asiatic species have been recently described by Motschulsky ; 

 they are found near the Amoor River. 



Fam. lvii.— mordellidae. 



Mentum trapezoidal, supported by a gular process ; ligula 

 prominent, cordiform : palpi 3-jointed, last joint triangular. 



Maxillae with large, prominent base, and two ciliated lobes; 

 palpi 4-jointed, rather long, with the last joint securiform or 

 cultriform, sometimes transverse. 



Head vertical, applied closely to the thorax, suddenly 

 constricted immediately behind the eyes, connected with the 



