Coleopterological Notices, V. 289 



process at about two-thirds the coxal length. This interesting 

 species is said to inhabit caves, but as the eyes are well developed, 

 it probably only seeks their seclusion and darkness during the day. 

 The genus Rheochara seems to be distinct from Aleochara, with 

 which it is united in the recent European catalogue. 



POLISTOMA Steph. 



There is considerable variation in the form of the mesosternal 

 process in this genus, the apex being more truncate in the European 

 species, but as the Californian species are intermediate in this re- 

 spect between them and maritima, I have no doubt that the genus 

 Emplenota Csy. will have to be suppressed ; I have used the name 

 Polistoma however, as Polystoma is preoccupied. The North 

 American species in my cabinet may be readily separated as fol- 

 lows: — 



Basal joint of the hind tarsi short, only slightly longer than the second. 

 Head very coarsely and conspicuously punctured. Atlantic coast. 



maritima 

 Head more finely and sparsely punctured ; form broader. Pacific coast. 



arenaria 



Basal joint of the hind tarsi much longer, equal to the next two combined ; 

 form still broader, the head and prothorax more transverse, the latter more 

 strongly rounded at the sides ; pubescence sparser ; antennae more incras- 

 sate ; deflexed apical angles of the prothorax very broadly rounded. Pacific 

 coast paciflca 



The species of Polistoma throughout the world are remarkably 

 homogeneous in general appearance. 



P. arenaria n. sp- — Parallel, rather depressed, black, the elytra some- 

 times with a subquadrate rufescent cloud not attaining the base ; antennae 

 black ; legs rufo-piceous toward tip ; head and pronotum opaque, extremely 

 densely and minutely granulato-reticulate, rather finely, feebly, sparsely but 

 distinctly punctate ; elytra rather less opaque, more strongly and closely punc- 

 tured ; abdomen polished, sparsely finely and unevenly punctate; pubescence 

 rather coarse, long, not dense but conspicuous, arranged transversely on the 

 pronotum. Head orbicular, as long as wide, fully four-fifths as wide as the 

 prothorax, parallel and broadly arcuate at the sides ; antennae feebly incras- 

 sate, one-half longer than the head, the outer joints not more than one-half 

 wider than long. Prothorax feebly transverse, subquadrate, one-fourth wider 

 than long ; sides parallel, broadly, feebly arcuate; base and apex equal, the 

 former evenly and very strongly, the latter feebly, arcuate ; apical angles 

 strongly deflexed, narrowly rounded ; basal extremely obtuse but distinct ; 

 disk evenly, feebly co;ivex, somewhat flattened in a broad median area toward 



