Coleopterological Xotices. 321 



Texas (Columbus). 



The tibia? and tarsi are slender, the tarsi tetramerous, the fourth 

 joint of the posterior a little longer than the first three together, 

 the basal joint about as long as the next two, slightly dilated and 

 with a brush of long hair beneath, the remaining joints slender and 

 almost glabrous throughout. The tibial spurs are not distinct. 



I am indebted to Mr. Schwarz, whose generous gifts of specimens 

 have often been referred to, for a representative of this very interest- 

 ing species. 



The genera of Murmidiini may be distinguished as follows: — 



Antennal cavity dorsal ; legs retractile MurniidillS 



Antennal cavity apical. 



Legs retractile; elytra with series of coarse punctures Mychocerus 



Legs free, the femora extending beyond the body ; elytral punctures without 

 trace of serial arrangement Itot rod IIS 



Antennal cavity inferior; anterior and intermediate legs retractile, posterior 

 free; elytra with rows of coarse punctures LapetllllS 



CUCUJID.E. 



As organized at present this family is perhaps the most compo- 

 site of the Clavicorns, several of the subfamilies exhibiting such 

 strong transitional affinities toward other families that there is 

 really very little reason for considering the latter distinct. The 

 Passandrinse, for example, exhibit a very close relationship with 

 the Colydiidas, and two of the four genera composing it in our 

 fauna have the tarsi tetramerous ; as further proof of this relation- 

 ship it should be stated that some genera of Colydiidas, as for 

 instance Sosylus, have a rudimentary process corresponding to the 

 jugular plates of the Passandrinse. 



NARTHECIUS Lee. 



This very isolated genus should be removed from the Cucujime 

 and placed in the Passandrinae, with the characters of which it is 

 in stricter harmony. The jugular plates in Narthecius, although 

 feebly developed, are distinct. The tarsi are perfectly tetramerous 

 throughout, 1 with the basal joint small and the fourth long. The 



1 In my revision of the Cucujidae the tarsus of this genus is drawn with 

 five joints ; the drawing is however incorrect, the division between the third 

 and fourth joints being an optical illusion in the somewhat imperfect specimen 



