FOSSIL COLEOPTERA 9 



tensis by the much smaller size, which is only about three-fourths 

 that of the latter species. 



^IiosiLPHA n. gen. 



Form of Silpha, for example S. lapponica. but differs in having the 

 middle c-oxae quite closely approximate or possibly contiguous. The front 

 coxae are transverse, the cavities confluent, hind coxsp also transverse and 

 contiguous. The flanks of the prothorax are inflexed and the elytra have 

 a wide inflexed margin. Antennae apparently ten jointed, with a four 

 jointed club, but it is possible that there were eleven joints. The type and 

 only known species is described below. 



M. XECROPHILOIDES n. sp. (Plate I. Figs. i. 5. 6.) Moderately elongate 

 in form. Head short, distinctly and strongly but not especially coarsely 

 punctured above and beneath, closely on the vertex, less so on the occiput, 

 and sparsely on the front. Eye rounded, small as seen from above. Anten- 

 na apparently ten jointed, the first joint long and stout, second small, 

 third as long as the next two. fourth, fifth and sixth subequal. seventh, 

 eighth, ninth, and tenth forming a moderately strong club which is some- 

 what shorter than all the joints from the second to the sixth inclusive. 

 Prothorax distorted but approximately twice as wide as long, upper sur- 

 face distinctly but sparsely punctured, a little more coarsely and closely 

 towards the sides. Scutellum finely punctured, triangular. Elytra nearly 

 parallel sided, not notably differing, in conjoint width, from the pro- 

 thorax, the surface of each with nine sharp, fine, nearly equidistant striae, 

 which nearly attain the elytral apices, their bottoms apparently finely in- 

 distinctly punctate, interstitial spaces broad, a little convex, probably each 

 with a few coarse punctures, though this appearance may perhaps be due 

 to the structure of the stone. Front tibia carinate, the others not distinct. 

 Underside of prothorax moderately finely, quite sparsely punctured, that of 

 the meso and metathorax still more finely ; on all of these, and on the ab- 

 domen, the punctuation is coarser at the sides, the middle abdominal region 

 being almost smooth. Length to apex of extended abdomen, 9.00 mm. ; of 

 elytra, 3.50 mm. 



Station number 14. There are two paired specimens, collected by Mrs. 

 W. P. Cockerell. The type is in the Museum of the University of Colorado, 

 the cotype in the American Museum of Natural History. 



This verA' interesting insect seems without doubt to be a Silphid. 

 I should place it in the tribe Silphini. with which it agrees in 

 having transverse anterior coxce, with trochantins. the cavities 

 confluent and open behind, the hind coxie simple and contiguous. 

 The exposed abdomen and ten jointed antennie ally it to 

 Necrophorus in which, however, the club is capitate while in 

 Miosilpha it is long and not very compact as in Silpha and 



