_l84— 



PLATYMEDON n. gen. 

 Body robust, depressed, with the sides parallel. Labi iim rather short, quadri- 

 deiitate ; teeth short. AntenniE moderate in length, slender, not incrassate, the first 

 joint more robust. Eyes moderate. Maxillary palpi rather well developed ; third 

 joint very strongly compressed, longer than the second and increasing in width from 

 base to apex ; fourth minute, subulate, very strongly compressed. Neck broad. 

 Anterior coxal cavities open behind, the pronotal hypomeia widely inflexed behind 

 and acute, becoming rapidly narrower anteriorly. Legs slender, moderate in length; 

 tarsi slender, the posterior elongate, three-fourth as long as the tibise, the first four 

 joints decreasing rapidly in length, the first shorter than the next two together and 

 much longer than the fifth. 



This is also a mjrmecophilous genus, tiie distinguishing character 

 of which is the very strong compression of the third and fourth joints of 

 the ma.xillary palpi. It is related to Medon. 



P. laticollis n. sp. 



Rufo-ferruginous throughout ; integuments shining, not reticulate, the abdomen 

 subalutaceous and much more densely pubescent ; anterior portions very finely and 

 not very densely pubescent. Head wider than long ; sides neaily parallel ; base 

 broadly, very feebly arcuate ; antenna; much shorter than the head and prothorax 

 together. Prothorax as long as the head and ^h'ghtly wider, one-half wider than 

 long ; sides nearly parallel ; basal angles broadly rounded. Elytra distinctly wider 

 than long, longer than the prothorax but scarcely perceptibly wider. Abdomen as 

 wide as the elytra, the fifth segment as long as the two preceding together. Length, 

 4.2 mm. 



Nebraska. 



The single specimen before me I owe to the kindness of Mr. Y.. A. 

 Schwarz ; it is probably a female. 



At the meeting of the Feltman Collecting Social, July 9th, Mr. 

 Laurent gave a description of a very ingenious box for preservmg food 

 plants fresh for some time. The si>ce of the box determined on, a rough 

 wooden box, is partly filled with fluid' plaster of paris, and another box 

 of the inside dimensions desired is pressed into the pasty mass, the space 

 between the two boxes being then completely filled and the edges matle 

 smooth and even. When the plaster has set, the inside box is broken 

 out and the plaster box turned out of the outside casing. For the cover 

 a shallow mold is prepared with a smooth bottom and a flat cover is 

 cast which, if the job is neatly done, will fit tightly upon the plaster 

 box. The plaster will absorb a great deal of vvaier and give it oft' very 

 slowly, keeping the plants in the box fresh a long time. U'hcn thy the 

 box is put under a tap and again charged. Mr. Laurent says he has 

 kept Sassafras fresh for 13 days in such a box. For a man able to get 

 out only once a week, such boxes would prove of immense advantage. 



