COLEOPTERA OF BAJA CALIFORNIA. 4O3 



third as long as first, fourth joint shorter, those following 

 about equal in length. Eyes coarsely granulate, very 

 deeply emarginate. Thorax strongly angulate at the 

 sides. Scutellum not large, semicircular. Elytra wider 

 at base than the thorax, apices entire, rounded. Mesos- 

 ternum slightly convex. 



This genus contains two species, of which nudicornis 

 may be considered the typical form. The type is some- 

 what depressed, but less so than in Tapina, while the 

 second species is slightly more convex. The coxee are 

 all widely separated, but to a less extent than in Tapina, 

 and rather more widely in iindiconiis than in the other. 

 In the males of both species the anterior femur is slightly 

 angulate on the under side one-third from the base, and 

 with a small brush of short hairs. No such character 

 has been seen in Tapina. 



The relationships of this genus are as difficult to define 

 as those of Tapina. It seems, while strongly related to 

 Tapina, to connect that genus with the Estolides. Ad- 

 mittinor the weight which Lacordaire insists should be al- 

 lowed for the widely separated coxa?, especially the pos- 

 terior, there can be no hesitanc}^ in placing the genus 

 near Tapina, a view also admitted by Bates by his con- 

 sidering nudicornis a possible Tapina. From the latter 

 genus it will be separated by the antenna not ciliate, and 

 the similar form of the head in the two sexes. The two 

 species are as follows : 



Piceons black, moderately shining, ninricate iDUuctnres of elytra irregu- 

 larly placed. nudicornis. 

 Brown, dull, more convex, muricate jDunctures regularly and evenly 

 placed. f libra. 



Peritapnia nudicornis Bates. (Tapeina?) Biol. 

 Cent. Am., vol. v, p. 421. 



