PROC. ENT. SOC. WASH., VOL. 24, NO. 1, JAN., 1922 15 



The hypopharynx is suboval, pubescent and not prominent; 

 directly above and behind it is the buccal opening. As far as 

 could be seen in dried specimens of fissilis Say the ligula does 

 not differ appreciably on either face from that of communis 

 Gyll. 



The labial palpus (LbPlp, fig. 9) is 3-jointed. \nfissilis Say 

 the first joint is short, barely longer than wide; the second is 

 nearly twice as long as the first along its internal margin, more 

 than twice as long on its external margin, obconical, slightly 

 arcuate; the terminal segment is twice as long as the second, 

 securiform, curved at its base, its internal and apical margins 

 subequal. The palpiger (plgr, fig. 9) is robust, about half as 

 long again as wide, and slightly arcuate. 



Maxilla (described from M. fissilis Say) (fig. 11). The 

 cardo (Cd, figs. 2 & 11) is located in a depression of the gena, 

 and is separated on its external face from the basistipes by a 

 sharp transverse carina which extends on either side, continuing 

 the line of the posterior carina of the submentum. The cardo 

 is externally more prominent than the gular and genal areas. 

 The basistipes (Btp, fig. 11) bears a thick cluster of long bristles 

 on its exterior face below the palpus. (Note. Dr. Crampton 

 points out to the writer that the terms "stipes" and "sub- 

 galea" as commonly used by coleopterists are morphologically 

 incorrect, the former being the basistipes and the latter the true 

 stipes). The lacinia (Lc, fig. 11) is a semi-membranous blade, 

 very thickly ciliate toward its external margin, and when at 

 rest lies along the interior margin of the galea. The gale a 

 (Gal, fig. 11) is oval, distinctly two-jointed, and is provided 

 with thickly set cilia on the apical segment. The galeal and 

 lacinial brushes curve upward toward the buccal cavity. The 

 maxillary palpus (MxPlp, figs. 2 & 11) is large and 4-jointed. 

 The first joint is small and subspherical, and is attached to the 

 slightly smaller, oblique palpifer (plfr, fig. 11); the second joint 

 is elongate obconical and slightly longer than the third; the 

 third is also obconical and distinctly arcuate; the fourth is 

 slightly longer than the second, broadly triangular, its interior 

 margin arcuate and about as long as the apical margin; its ex- 

 terior margin the longest and nearly straight. 



The antennae of Melanotus are 11-jointed and the terminal 

 joint is entire, never being constricted to suggest a pseudo 

 12th segment as is the case in Parallelostethns, Crigmus, etc. 

 The basal joint is about 2>^ times the length of the second, 

 subcylindrical and distinctly arcuate. ' The second joint is 

 small and subglobular; the third is variable in size and shape 

 depending upon the species, \r\fissilis Say the fourth to tenth 

 segments are subtriangular, giving that part of the antenna a 

 serrate appearance, and are subequal in length. The eleventh 

 segment is elongate oval with the apex rather acutely rounded. 



