short metasternal projection by a notably extended interval, the coxæ contiguous, the first four joints of the hind tarsi subequal, the infra-lateral cephalic carinæ fine but subentire, the eyes moderate and the antennæ are strongly incrassate, with transverse penultimate joints. The type is the following:
| Atheta (Delphota) cephalina n. sp.—Moderately stout and convex, slightly shining, the abdomen more so; piceous-brown, the elytra and legs slightly paler, the head and abdomen black throughout; antennæ dark-brown, paler basally; head transverse, parallel, the eyes not prominent, at their own length from the base, the antennæ extending barely to basal third of the elytra, rapidly and strongly incrassate, the outer joints distinctly transverse, the eleventh pointed and as long as the preceding two; prothorax about as wide as the elytra, much wider than the head, two-fifths wider than long, parallel, with moderately rounded sides, the basal impression obsolete, the punctures fine and close-set; elytra moderately transverse, much longer than the prothorax, closely, rather asperulately punctulate; abdomen slightly narrower than the elytra, the minute punctures numerous but not dense, the sixth tergite (♂) broadly, rectilinearly truncate, the edge finely, feebly crenulate, the lateral projections very short, flat and rounded, not very different from the other cremulations. Length 2.5 mm.; width 0.6 mm. Iowa,—Brendel. |
This species is chiefly remarkable in its very exceptional sexual modifications of the head, which, in the male, is opaque by reason of extremely small strong reticulation, rather flattened above and feebly impressed along the median line; in the female it is more convex, even, shining and very much more feebly and less minutely micro-reticulate.
Atheta Thoms.
The species here assigned to typical Atheta, although exhibiting much diversity of structure, agree tolerably well among themselves in the small or very moderate size of the body, in having the abdomen parallel or virtually so, the eyes moderate in size, generally at their own length from the base, the antennæ moderate in length and gradually incrassate, the mesosternal process acute, the metasternal short, the coxæ approximate and the basal joints of the hind tarsi subequal among themselves, although the basal joint is occasionally a little shorter or longer than the second. In the descriptions the infra-lateral carinæ of the head are alluded to simply as carinæ.
| Atheta barbaræ n. sp.—Moderately slender, rather shining, black, the elytra scarcely less so, the legs and antennæ piceous; vestiture not dense and rather long; head transverse, parallel, with sparse shallow umbilicate punctures, the |
