PLATYMEDON ». gen. 
Body robust, depressed, with the sides parallel. Labrum rather short, quadri- 
dentate ; teeth short. Antenne 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 hypomera widely inflexed behind 
and acute, becoming rapidly narrower anteriorly. Legs slender, mo‘erate in length; 
tarsi slender, the posterior elongate, three-fourth as long as the tibize, 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 myrmecophilous genus, the distinguishing character 
of which is the very strong compression of the third and fourth joints of 
the maxillary palpi. It is related to AZedon. 
P. laticollis n, sp. 
Rufo-ferrugifious 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 nearly parallel; base 
broadly, very feebly arcuate ; antennze much shorter than the head and_prothorax 
together. Prothorax as long as the head and slightly 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. E. A. 
Schwarz ; it is probably a female. 
0 
At the meeting of the Feltman Collecting Social, July gth, Mr. 
Laurent gave a description of a very ingenious box for preserving food 
plants fresh for some time. The size 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 made 
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 water and give it off very 
slowly, keeping the plants in the box fresh a long time. When dry 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. 
