Geodephagous Coleoptera of Japan. 283 



slightly prominent ; but in others from Kawachi it is as 

 wide at the base as in front, and the angles are more 

 prominent. All intermediate gradations occur, and the 

 following may be only an extreme form. 



Dromius campanulatus. 



Paullo minus elongatus ; thorace campanuliformi, basi 

 dilatato ; caeteris ut in D. prolixo. Long. 5|- — 6|- mm. 



Higo ; Fukushima ; Miyanoshita and Kiga. 



The thorax is much the widest at the hind angles, 

 being narrowed thence, first in a straight and then in a 

 curved line to the anterior margin. As some gradations 

 occur, I doubt whether it keeps itself as a distinct species 

 from D. prolixus. 



Dromius breviceps. 



D. agile affinis, magis elongatus ; a D. prolixo et D. 

 agile differt capite ante oculos multo abbreviato, obtuso, 

 labro mandibulisque brevibus, palpis crassis, articulo 

 ultimo elongato-ovato prope apicem lateraliter excavato ; 

 elongato-oblongus, nigro-piceus, antennis palpis pedi- 

 busque fulvo-testaceis ; femoribus flavescentibus ; capite 

 brevissimo, post oculos nee rotundato. recte angustato, 

 fronte multi-rugulosa ; thorace quadrato, antice fere ut 

 in D. agile usque ad collum modice rotundato, sed postice 

 minime angustato, angulis posticis elevatis apice rotun- 

 datis, dorso striguloso ; elytris parallelis, apice fere recte 

 truncatis, striis vix impressis interstitiis convexis. Long. 

 7 mm. 



Yokohama, under Celtis bark. 



Very distinct from D.jwolix us and campanulatus. Colour 

 above wholly pitchy black, with a silky gloss ; legs 

 yellowish testaceous ; palpi thick, last joint ovoid ; head 

 much shortened anteriorly, rounded, and obtuse ; elytral 

 strise very faint and not perceptibly punctulated, &c. It 

 is much more nearly allied to a Central American species, 

 D. Guatemalence, Bates ; the row of punctures on the 

 7th interstice is scarcely visible. 



Dromius crassipalpis. 

 D. brevicipiti proxime affinis, minus elongatus, quoad 

 forman D. agili similis, supra nigro-piceus, thorace 

 interdum rufescenti ; antennis, partibus oris pedibusque 



