STAPHYLINID^:. 1 1 



antennae black, moderate in length and distinctly incrassate though 

 not very stout, rather slender basally, the first three joints gradually 

 decreasing in length, the first the stoutest, fourth but slightly, the tenth 

 nearly one-half wider than long, the last subpyriform and as long as 

 the two preceding; prothorax much wider than the head, short, two- 

 thirds wider than long, about as wide as the elytral base, the sides feebly 

 converging and broadly arcuate from the obtuse though rather evident 

 basal angles to the apex, the base broadly rounded; surface with a large 

 shallow ante-scutellar impression, the median line, extending therefrom, 

 finely and feebly impressed throughout; elytra large, but little shorter 

 than wide, at apex somewhat wider than the prothorax, fully one-half 

 longer, the sides very feebly diverging from the base and nearly straight; 

 abdomen distinctly narrower than the elytra, parallel, with rather thin 

 margins, the fifth tergite evidently longer than the fourth. Length 

 1.8-2.3 rnm.; width 0.6 mm. California (Lake Tahoe). 



To be known by the slender form and black coloration, short 

 transverse prothorax and very well developed elytra. It is some- 

 what abundant at the locality cited. 



Melanalia larvalis n. sp. More fusoid or narrowed anteriorly than 

 in tabida, piceous-black, the legs brown, not very shining, the punctures 

 rather closer but everywhere very minute and feeble, close but very 

 minute and almost invisible on the elytra, the vestiture paler, more 

 abundant and more distinct than in the preceding; head much smaller 

 and about as long as wide, the eyes not prominent and at barely their 

 own length from the base, the tempora equally prominent; antennae 

 pale basally, the first and second joints subequal in length, the third 

 a little shorter, fourth distinctly wider than long, the remainder missing 

 in the type; prothorax small, rather more than one-half wider than long, 

 evidently narrower than the elytral base though much wider than the 

 head, the sides almost parallel and evenly arcuate, the base rounded, 

 the angles obtuse but distinct; surface not or only very feebly impressed 

 before the scutellum; elytra relatively very large, scarcely shorter than 

 wide, very much wider and at least three-fifths longer than the pro- 

 thorax, the sides feebly diverging from the base and nearly straight; 

 abdomen much narrower than the elytra, subparallel, the punctures 

 very minute and scarcely at all asperate, somewhat close-set. Length 

 1.75 mm.; width 0.5 mm. California (Hoopa Valley, Humboldt Co.). 



Readily distinguishable from the preceding by the smaller and 

 less transverse head and prothorax, more distinct vestiture and 

 finer, closer punctures. 



Melanalia tetricula n. sp. Somewhat fusoid, moderately convex and 

 shining, blackish-piceous, the elytra slightly paler, the legs flavo-piceous; 

 punctures throughout close-set but very fine and feeble, the vestiture 

 fine, palish, close and subdecumbent; head slightly wider than long, 

 parallel at the sides, the eyes rather convex and at slightly less than their 

 own length from the base; antennae piceous-brown, the basal joint paler, 



