216 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. [60] 



seven to nine increasing rather rapidly in width, ninth and tenth strongly 

 transverse, equal, a little longer than the third, together scarcely as long as the 

 eleventh, which is ovoidal and pointed. Prothorax widest at one-third its 

 length from the apex, where it is very slightly narrower than long; sides 

 thence very strongly convergent and broadly sinuate to the apex which is 

 slightly produced, truncate at tip and less than one-third as wide as the disk ; 

 sides in the posterior two-thirds rather rapidly convergent to the base and 

 very feebly arcuate; apical angles obtuse, rather narrowly rounded and 

 somewhat prominent; basal rather broadly rounded; disk feebly convex, 

 feebly and broadly ridged along the middle especially in the basal half 

 where it is broadly and feebly biimpressed. Elytra at base distinctly wider 

 than the pronotum; sides very feebly divergent, feebly arcuate; together 

 broadly, angularly and feebly emarginate behind; disk quadrate, subde- 

 pressed, very slightly longer than the pronotum, coarsel}' and very closely 

 granulate; on each elytron there is a very feeble impression extending from 

 the scutellum slightly obliquely and near the suture nearly to the apex. 

 Ssutellum very indistinct, small, rounded. Abdomen at base as wide as the 

 elytra, and, at the apex of the first segment, slightly wider; sides gradually 

 convergent and slightly arcuate to the apex; border strongly inclined and 

 very distinct; surface moderately convex, coarsely aud densely ruguloso- 

 granulate. Under surface of the head coarsely and closely punctate: 

 punctures round, variolate and almost in contact; under surface of the 

 abdomen shining, rather finely punctate; punctures asperate and arranged 

 in wavy, interrupted, transverse rows. Length 1.7-2.0 mm. 



Texas; (Galveston 2). 



The sculpture of the pronotum consists of a very minute 

 reticulation of coarse strongly elevated lines. 



The sexual characters are very feeble; the type is a male 

 and has the apex of the sixth segment broadly truncate or 

 excessively feebly sinuate throughout; in the female the 

 sixth segment is longer and extremely feebly angulate 

 throughout its width at apex. The male is much smaller 

 than the female. 



The two representatives of this very interesting species 

 were found in detritus and rubbish on the inner side of the 

 sand dunes lining the ocean beach. It is the smallest 

 Pa3deride described from the United States. 



Scop.eus. 



The genus Scopams of Erichson was distinguished from 

 the other Prederoid genera by a remarkable character relat- 



