244 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 



The form of the elytral appendix is not easy to 

 describe. The sutural angle is impressed and extended 

 on a lower plane into an acute process; inferiorly the 

 elytron is produced in the form of a broad, somewhat 

 contorted plate which is deeply sinuate externally near 

 the apex, the outer angle of the sinuation acute; parallel 

 to and above the inner margin of the plate is an irregu- 

 lar process which is attached at base, rounded at tip, its 

 upper margin bidentate near the base. The entire 

 appendix is black without lustre, and is sparsely punctate 

 and pubescent. The epistoma is more or less pale. 



M. inornatus is nearest M. auritus and M. thevenetii, but 

 in the former the thorax is red at sides, and it and the 

 base of the elytra bear numerous fine, erect hairs in 

 addition to the usual recumbent pubescence; while in 

 M. thevenetii the male antennae are pectinate, and in both 

 the elytra are tipped with red in the female. 



57. Malachius pristinus, sp. nov. 



Very small, slender, parallel, dull black, not shining, finely punctate; 

 head very finely, thorax more distinctly alutaceous; pubescence short, 

 pale, semierect, inclined forward on the prothorax, and outward on the 

 elytra; mouth, under side of three or four basal joints of antennae, and 

 sutural angles of elytra, yellow; legs a little paler than the upper surface, 

 knees of front and middle pair yellowish. Antennae scarcely reaching the 

 middle of the elytra, very feebly serrate, joints five to ten fully twice as 

 long as wide. Head feebly impressed. Prothorax transverse, sides nearly 

 parallel, all the angles rather broadly rounded; base and apex arcuate, the 

 latter less strongly. Tips of elytra inflexed, each bearing on the vertical 

 face and close to the suture a slender erect process which extends upward 

 to the level of the elytra, and is curved forward at tip; the inferior plate 

 is broad and reflexed at tip. 



Length, 2.5 mm. 



Found in the Sierras of Los Angeles County. 



The small size, dull surface, and peculiar elytral 

 appendix are peculiar. A single male only has been 

 seen. 



