Coleopterological Notices. 89 



ments moderate in length ; the sixth very much longer than the fifth, with 

 the apex for one-flfth the length perfectly smooth and polished ; surface feebly 

 reticulate, very minutely and rather sparsely punctate, more strongly shining. 

 Length 1.6 mm. 



California (Mendocino, Sonoma and Marin Cos. 11). 



The pubescence in this well-marked species is not very dense, and 

 is somewhat longer than usual. The anterior legs throughout, 

 together with the coxae, are pale flavate, the posterior piceous, the 

 posterior tibia) having, at the middle of the exterior edge, a long 

 erect seta, which seems to be a constant generic character, but 

 becoming here more than usually pronounced. It is gregarious on 

 the under surface of chips and stones near running water, and its 

 motions are extremely slow, differing greatly from the normal forms, 

 as for instance hesperius, which are never gregarious, and which 

 move much more rapidly over the sand and adobe mud of the river 

 bank. Similar differences of habit are well known in the genus 

 Trogophloeus. 



PHALACRID^. 



"With the exception of a few more or less isolated descriptions, 

 the representatives of this family have of late years been greatly 

 neglected by systematists. The study of the European species has, 

 however, been recently resumed by Tournier and Flach, and the 

 description of several interesting new genera by Dr. Sharp in the 

 Biologia Centrali-Americana, has served to revive a still more 

 general interest. In the following pages I have attempted to per- 

 form a corresponding service for the North American species.^ 



The family seems to be more especially characteristic of the 

 American, than of the European "fauna, for it is here that it reaches 

 its greatest development, not only in the number and variety of its 

 species, but more noticeably in the unexpected number of distinct 

 and highly specialized generic groups. Although to a superficial 

 view presenting a very monotonous and little varied appearance, 

 I have found the study of the American species a highly interesting 

 one, the various genera being quite abruptly limited, and charac- 

 terized by an unusual paucity of iutergrading forms. 



1 Olihrus picem Boh., mentioned by Gemm. and Harold (Cat. Col. p. 801) as 

 described from California, cannot be identified, and, as the name is pre-occu- 

 pied, should be dropped from our lists. Phalacrus difformis Lee. (Agass. L. 

 Sup. 222) is an Agathidium. Litochrus hnmnipennis Mann, is a Choleva. 



