AMERICAN COLEOPTERA. 249 



ing together, conical, acute at tip. Labial palpi short, last joint cylindrical. 

 Antennae attaining the hind angles of the thorax, first joint cylindrical, very 

 little stouter than the others, 2 — 3 similar, elongate-oval, each very little shorter 

 than the first, 4 — 6 small, round, seventh broader, eighth equal to sixth, 9 — 10 

 similar to seventh, eleventh longer, oval at tip. Prosternura in front of coxsb 

 moderately long. Scutellum small, triangular, base of thorax overlapping 

 slightly the elytra. Legs moderately stout, tibiae, especially the middle, ob- 

 liquely truncate at tip and spinous at the outer apical angle. Tarsi five-jointed 

 in both sexes, the first four short and nearly equal, the fifth as long as these 

 taken together, claws slender. Epipleurse rather broad, body apterous. 



P. cryptophagoides Mann. (Cafops).— Oblong-oval, castaneous, shin- 

 ing, glabrous. Head nearly smooth. Thorax one-third wider than long, apex 

 feebly eniarginate, base truncate, hind angles rectangular, sides feebly arcuate 

 and slightly narrowing to the front, disc regularly convex, very sparsely 

 minutely punctulate aud under high power finely alutaceous. Elytra as wide 

 as the thorax, sides feebly arcuate, gradually narrowed at apical third, disc 

 moderately convex, surface with sparsely placed minute punctures in the 

 basal region showing a tendency to a strial arrangement, apex absolutely 

 smooth. Body beneath very sparsely punctate. Length .08 inch ; 2 mm., vary- 

 ing a little. (PI. V, fig. 12). 



The males have the first three joints of the anterior tarsi moder- 

 ately dilated, the middle and posterior tarsi slender. 



The distribution of this insect is remarkable. Originally dis- 

 covered in Alaska, (a type from Mannerheim being before me), 

 Mr. Henry Ulke has lately discovered it in moderate numbers near 

 Washington, D. C. It lives in the fine debris of rotting wood, etc. 



Tribe TV. — Gholevini. 

 Anterior coxse cylindric conic, prominent, contiguous, without trochantin, 

 the coxal cavities feebly or not angulate externally and closed behind. Middle 

 and posterior coxse variable in position, either contiguous or not. Abdomen 

 with six distinct segments except in Colon where there are but five. Antennse 

 free at base, no frontal margin. 



The form of the anterior coxje varies somewhat in the difi'erent 

 genera being almost truly cylindrical in Leptodirus and decidedly 

 conical in the other genera. The cavities into which the coxae are 

 received are worthy of special study, being constructed on a plan 

 which I have not observed elsewhere. The base of the coxa is 

 received into a cotyloid depression in the prothorax the only opening 

 into the cavity of the thorax being a foramen of moderate size in the 

 outer portion of the depression, in the usual position of the trochantin. 

 The form of articulation between the coxa and the thorax is very 

 nearly a ball and socket joint. The coxae are always closed behind 

 more or less widely and in many of the genera by the meeting of the 

 sternal side pieces on the median line, the prosteruum not attaining 



TKASS. AMER. ENT. SOC. VIII. (32) AUGUST, 1880. 



