482 CALIFOENIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 



bead and prothorax together, depressed; sutural series of four impressed 

 foveas at the base; the sutural stria deeply impressed and continuous only 

 from the fourth fovea; discal impression coarsely foveate, terminating before 

 the middle; between them a basal series of two or three foveas. Abdomen 

 as wide as and slightly longer than the elytra; border wide. Leg* short 

 and rather slender. Length 1.9 mm. 



California (Mendocino Co. 1). 



The pronotal foveas and spongiose band of the abdomen 

 are nearly as in corticina. This species is abundantly dis- 

 tinguished from the preceding and from isabellce, Lee. by its 

 smaller head and pale color respectively, and from parviceps 

 Makl, which it must more nearly resemble, in its smaller 

 size. The present species was found with the preceding 

 under bark, and, as the Alaskan form inhabits grassy places, 

 the two are probably distinct. 



S. isabellce Lee. — Two specimens of this species, collected by Mr. C. Fuchs, 

 at Alameda, differ greatly from those here described in the shorter, more ro- 

 bust antennas, with more transverse joints, in the intense black color with 

 testaceous elytra, and in the complete absence of the two discal punctures 

 of the pronotum. They were found in decomposing vegetable mould. . 



EXPLANATION OF THE PLATE. 



The accompanying plate is somewhnt experimental, the figures being re- 

 productions by means Of photography and gelatine printing, of shaded lead- 

 pencil drawings. Should this attempt be deemed successful, the process 

 must assuredly become popular among entomologists, as it is far easier and 

 less trying to the eyesight to make satisfactory drawings iu soft pencil than 

 in ink stipple. 



Fig. 1 — Nisaxis cincinnata Cas. Fig. 6 — Tychus sonoivce Cas. 



Fig. 2 — Biotus formicarius Cas. Fig. 7 — A cti urn pallidum Cas. 



Fig. 3 — Eutrichites (Zimmermanni ?)Lec. Fig. 8 — Rhexidius granulosus Cas. 



Fig. 4c—Ortqjusinterr'qrtusC-nS. Fig. 9 — Thesium laticolle Cas. 



Fig. 5 — Bryaxis texana Cas. Fig. 10 — Sonoma corticina Cas. 



Note. — The drawings are taken from typical representatives in all cases except Eu- 

 trichites'Lec. and Thesium laticolle Cas., -which I have identified from the original descrip- 

 tions. With reference to the former, it may be stated that the specimen figured agrees 

 very -well generically, but not so well specifically, with the description of Le Conte. 

 For example, the apical fovea of the front is stated to be smaller than the occipital in 

 Zimmermanni, whereas in the representative figured it is in the form of a broad, indefi- 

 nite impression without trace of fovea. The specimens here figured were found at 

 Austin, Texas. 



