Memoirs on the coleoptera

TENEBRIONID/E 169
any sexual relationship between bifurca and connivens* I also
fail to comprehend the reference of them to Pelecyphorus by LeConte,
as the fourth male palpal joint is in no way large and scalene as it
is in that genus. My single specimen of bifurca described above is
not identifiable sexually, but appears from its notably long antennae
to be a male. All of these remarkable species inhabit the regions
about Cape San Lucas and a more thorough examination will doubt-
less disclose more allied species in that neighborhood. I at first
considered the type of tantilla as representing connivens, because it
seems to have the same thoracic angles and elytral costae; but, on
more closely reading LeConte's description of connivens quoted
above in the table, where the elytra are said to be much wider than
the prothorax even in the male, it became evident that they are
by no means the same. Tantilla and exilis are among the smallest
and by far the slenderest American members of the Asidini, being
much more slender than Pactostoma obtecta, and tantilla is even
shorter, being probably subsimilar in dimensions to Stenosides
texanus Wick.
Asidina n. gen.
The general form in this genus is narrow and parallel, with the
dorsal surface flattened, but occasionally it becomes broader and
more oval; the integuments are more or less smooth, sparsely and
finely punctate, the punctures bearing very short, stiff and simple
erect setae, which are altogether inconspicuous. There is nothing
peculiar in the head, labrum, eyes and prosternum, the latter being
very steeply declivous or vertical behind, but the antennae are
more or less slender, with the tenth joint wider, betraying an ap-
proach to the next genus, from which it differs in the mentum, this
being transversely parallelogramic and in close contact at the sides
with the sides of the very shallow buccal opening, these lateral
projections being as excessively short and obtuse as in Glyptasida
and Pelecyphorus; but the gular pedestal is rather long, only moderately
wide and is deeply sinuate medially. The legs are mod-
erately short, slender, clothed with very short and stiff hairs, the
* To set this matter finally at rest it may be stated that since this was written I have
received a specimen agreeing fairly well with LeConte's description of connivens and
having the elytra more than one-half wider than the prothorax. It is about 13.0 mm.
in length and the protruded sexual organs show clearly that it is a female.