718 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol.xxi. 



tlioujili distinct; they taper gradually from the posterior corner of the 

 carina to its raised anterior edge; posterior corners moderately pro- 

 duced on posterior segments. 



llepugnatorial pores 13, located in rather small depressions facing 

 somewhat laterad. 



Preanal scale scarcely apiculate, the apex considerably exceeded by 

 the rather large setiterons tubercles, which are so close together that 

 the slopes of their bases nearly meet. 



Characters of mature males unknown. 



Female with coxa> of second legs produced into two long cylindrical 

 processes, which exceed the second joint of the legs in length and are 

 densely hirsute with very long hairs. 



The type of this genus is 71/. compacUlis Gerstiicker. The processes 

 are so remarkable and, as far as known, so unique a character that 

 they may with safety be made the basis of a generic diagnosis. That 

 wo are not, however, dealing with an entirely anomalous condition may 

 perhaps be inferred from the fact that the female of Gomphodesmus has 

 the coxa' somewhat conically prominent. In that case, however, the 

 posterior margin of the third segment is below much produced into a 

 thin prominent rim, which is medianly broadly and deeply emarginate. 

 In Mcrodesmus no such tendency aj^pears, and the form and sculpture of 

 the carina? of the first segment are ditt'erent not only from Gomphodes- 

 mus^ but from other Gomphodesmida', to say nothing of the discrei)ancy 

 of olfactory cones between tbe two genei'a compared. The general 

 outline of the very short, strongly convex, and compacted body, which 

 tapers distinctly cephalad, is also peculiar. The carina^ are proportion- 

 ally narrow, and are inserted below rather than above the middle line 

 of height. 



MERODESMUS COMPACTILIS Gersfacker. 



^ (Plate LXI, lig. 2rt.) 



Etirydesmus compactilin GerstXckek, Decken'a Reise, 1873, III, 2, p. 519. 

 Axlodesmus compaciilis Cook, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1895, XVIII, p. 91. 



Body short and stout, proportionally strongly arched, slightly shining. 



A^ertex with a fine, though sharj), median furrow; clypeus below 

 more strongly contracted than in A. lajcus, the curved line above the 

 middle of the margin distinct, the part below densely punctate. 



Antennae somewhat more slender than in j\strodesmus la.rus. 



First segment with anterior margin even, moderately arcuate, passing 

 with the same curve into the lateral margins; posterior edge emarginate 

 in the middle and also on each side, so that the lateral corners are 

 sharp and slightly produced caudad; marginal ridges smooth, linear, 

 continued on the anterior margin and gradually narrowed. 



Subsequent segments strongly arched dorsally. Second ta fourth 

 segments with an evident emargiuation on each side of the i>osterior 

 edge. 



Lateral carina' small, below the middle height of the segments; on 



