Monotoma, included in this family by Duval, should never have had a place in it.

This family divides into five sub-families, of which the second is considered by Du Val as forming a distinct family. The sole character, the concealment of the maxillæ by corneous plates, does not appear of sufficient importance to warrant such a conclusion, and I therefore follow the example of Erichson and Lacordaire in considering it as a member of the present family.

Anterior coxal cavities closed behind; tarsi not lobed beneath, with the

Anterior coxal cavities closed behind; tarsi with the third joint lobed; Fourth tarsal joint not smaller than the third.

Fourth tarsal joint very small.

Sub-Family I.-SYLVANIDAE.

HEMIPEPLIDæ.
TELEPHANIDE.

In this sub-family are contained but two genera, having the genæ prominent and acute; the antenna with the first joint not elongated, and the outer ones enlarged; the anterior coxal cavities are broadly closed behind, and the tarsi, 5-jointed in both sexes, have the fourth joint small.

The genera are two in number, and the species, which are of small size, are found under bark or in grain.

SYLVANUS.

Antenna with the joints 9-11 somewhat suddenly larger.
Antennæ with outer joints gradually enlarged.

NAUSIBIUS.

The type and only species of the last genus is N. dentatus, having several large teeth on the sides of the thorax. been diffused over the whole globe in articles of commerce.

It has

Sub-Family II.-PASSANDRIDAE.

This sub-family is represented in the United States by a single species, Catogenus rufus, of very variable size, found in the Middle, Southern, and Western States. It is dark-brown, elongate, depressed; the elytra are striate, and the antennæ moderately thick; the tarsi are 5-jointed in both sexes; the anterior coxal cavities are open behind; the genæ are prolonged into plates covering the maxillæ.

Sub-Family III.-CUCUJIDAE (genuini).

In this sub-family the anterior coxal cavities are open behind, and the base of the maxillæ is exposed. The tarsi are filiform, either 5-jointed, or with the hind ones of the males 4-jointed.

Two tribes are indicated by our genera:—

Antennæ with the first joint moderate.

Antennæ with the first joint elongated.

Tribe I.-CUCUJINI.

CUCUJINI. BRONTINI.

The typical genus Cucujus is represented in our country by two species. They are bright scarlet-colored, depressed insects, less elongate than Catogenus, with the elytra punctured, with three faintly-marked smooth lines. C. clavipes is found on the Atlantic slope, C. puniceus in Oregon and Russian America. Narthecius contains a small species from Pennsylvania, which is very remarkable for its cylindrical form and very large head, which, with the thorax, more than equals in length the elytra. The other genera are composed of small insects, occurring on both sides of the continent. The posterior tarsi are 4-jointed in the males.

Posterior angles of the head prominent, rounded; antennæ not thickened externally. CUCUJUS. Posterior angles of the head none; prosternum narrow; antenna with the last three joints wider, the intermediate ones unequal; elytra not striate. PEDIACUS.

Posterior angles of the head none; prosternum very wide; antennæ usually long, slender, the last three joints sometimes slightly dilated; elytra obsoletely striate; head and thorax with a fine elevated line or one or two striæ near each side; spurs of the anterior tibiæ unequal; Body much depressed. Body cylindrical; head very large (antennæ less elongated).

Tribe II.-BRONTINI.

LEMOPHLŒus.

NARTHECIUS.

This tribe consists of two genera, found on both sides of the continent, and also in Europe.. Brontes is generally diffused, Dendrophagus only in the northern regions. The elytra are striate in both.

Body very elongate; sides of thorax parallel; mesosternum truncate in front. DENDROPHAGUS.

Body less elongate; sides of thorax strongly serrate, anterior angles prolonged; mesosternum broadly emarginate in front. BRONTES.

Sub-Family IV.-HEMIPEPLIDAE.

In this sub-family the anterior coxal cavities are nearly confluent, and narrowly closed behind; the elytra are rounded at tip, but shorter than the abdomen. The anterior and middle tarsi are somewhat dilated, and the fourth joint is not smaller than the third, and is slightly lobed beneath; the hind tarsi (of the males alone?) are 4-jointed. The body is very elongated, linear, and depressed; the head is narrowed behind the eyes, which are large. The thorax in our species is somewhat narrowed behind, with a large puncture each side, near the base; the antennæ are a little longer than the head and thorax, very slightly thickened at the extremity, with the first joint as long as the three following; the maxillæ are not covered, and the genæ are but slightly prominent.

Hemipeplus marginipennis, the only representative in our fauna, is a very rare insect, found under bark in the Southern States.

Sub-Family V.-TELEPHANIDAE.

In this sub-family the anterior coxal cavities are broadly closed behind, as in the first sub-family, but the third joint of the tarsi is lobed beneath; the maxillæ are exposed, and the gene but slightly prominent. The genus Telephanus is found under stones; of Pseudophanus the habits are not known.

Our two genera, each containing a single species, represent two tribes:

Antennæ with the first joint elongated.
Antennæ with the first joint short.

TELEPHANINI. PSEUDOPHANINI.

Telephanus velox (Heterodromia velox Hald.) is found in the Atlantic district; Pseudophanus signatus Lec. in Oregon.

FAM. XXI.-CRYPTOPHAGIDAE.

Mentum moderate, trapezoidal, sinuate in front; ligula. corneous, usually with distinct paraglossæ; labial palpi short, 3-jointed.

Maxillæ exposed at the base, with two coriaceous lobes,

the inner one with a terminal hook; maxillary palpi 4-jointed, short.

Eyes rounded, moderately strongly granulated.

Antennæ 11-jointed, with the joints 9-11 larger, forming a club.

Head usually moderate in size, not narrowed behind, front sometimes moderately prolonged; labrum distinct, transverse. Prothorax with the side pieces not separate; prosternum separating the coxæ, usually prolonged behind; coxal cavities open behind.

Mesosternum articulating with the prosternum, frequently emarginate in front; side pieces not attaining the coxæ. Metasternum large, side pieces narrow.

Elytra rounded behind, entirely covering the abdomen. Abdomen with five free ventral segments, the first somewhat longer than the others.

Coxæ, anterior oval or rounded; middle ones rounded; posterior ones transverse; all of them separated by the respective sterna.

Legs short; tibiæ nearly linear, with small terminal spurs; tarsi sometimes 5-jointed, with the fourth joint smaller; the hind ones are only 4-jointed in the males of several genera; the joints are clothed beneath with long hair, and the first three of the anterior pair are frequently dilated in the male.

Insects of small size and of variable form, but never very depressed, and with the thorax nearly or quite as wide as the elytra. They live on fungi and other decomposing vegetable matters. Some are found flying in the evening twilight, and upon boardpiles.

I have limited this family in the same manner as Lacordaire, and cannot adopt the views of Duval, who has joined with it Sylvanus, and excluded Telmatophilus. I do not find the anterior coxæ globose, as described by Erichson, Lacordaire, and Duval, except in Atomaria and the allied genus Epistemus.

The characters of the family are nearly those of Cucujidæ, but the greater length of the first ventral segment, and different form of body, enable the genera to be readily distinguished.

Three tribes are indicated as follows:

Tarsi with fourth joint very small, the second and third lobed.

Tarsi with the joints not lobed beneath;

TELMATOPHILINI.

Antennæ inserted at the sides of the front.

CRYPTOPHAGINI.

Antennæ inserted at the anterior part of the front.

ATOMARIINI.

Tribe I.-TELMATOPHILINI.

The antennæ are inserted at the sides of the front, which is narrowed and prolonged; the clypeal suture is not visible; the anterior coxæ are slightly oval; the prosternum is prolonged, meeting the concave mesosternum. The tarsi are 5-jointed in both sexes, the fourth joint is very small, and the third is prolonged beneath into a lobe; the second joint is slightly lobed.

Telmatophilus, and a new genus, constitute this tribe; the species are found on plants near water. One species of each genus is known to me from the Atlantic district; they are found on plants near water. Loberus resembles, at first sight, a small Haltica of the group Crepidodera; the color is shining black, the thorax but sparsely punctured, with a transverse impression very near the base; the elytra have striæ of fine punctures, from which proceed very short fine hairs.

The genera are thus distinguished:

Ninth joint of antennæ scarcely wider than the eighth; body densely punctured and pubescent. TELMATOPHILUS. Ninth joint of antennæ as wide as the tenth; body scarcely pubescent; elytra with striæ of punctures. LOBERUS.

Tribe II.-CRYPTOPHAGINI (genuini).

The antennæ are inserted at the sides of the front, which is sometimes prolonged; the ninth joint of the antennæ is scarcely narrower than the tenth. The anterior coxæ are decidedly transverse. The tarsi are sometimes 5-jointed in both sexes, but usually the hind tarsi of the male are 4-jointed; the joints are not lobed beneath, and the fourth is but little smaller than the third. The anterior tarsi of the males are slightly dilated, and hairy beneath.

Two groups are known by the following characters :Mesosternum deeply emarginate, receiving the prosternum.

Mesosternum not emarginate.

Group I.-Antherophagi.

ANTHEROPHAGI.
CRYPTOPHAGI.

The genus Antherophagus alone, represented by one species in the Atlantic district, and one in Russian America, constitutes this group, which differs from the next not only by the prosternum