NORTH amf:rican coleoptera. 301 



The specimens which served as the types of Mecas inornata Say 

 and M. satarnma Lee. and whicli formed the basis of my study of 

 that genus are identical. On going over the material which had 

 accumulated in the meantime Mr. Blanchard found that two species 

 were i)resent in both sexes. It was thought better that one form 

 should bear the Say name and the LeConte name retained for that 

 bearing the autograph label of LeConte as follows : 



31. saturnina Lee. — Claws moderately deeply cleft, the inner divi- 

 sion acute. 



31. inornata Say.— Claws more deeply cleft, the inner division 

 broad and lobe like. 



In the light of these studies the species described by Newman 

 were found to be as indicated by Mr. Gahan. 



The opportunity kindly permitted by the curators of the British 

 Museum have enabled me to study several species of Leptura with 

 results different from those hitherto published. 



L.. nana Newm.— Anteunse always piceous. Anterior femora and base of 

 middle yellowish. Terminal ventral segment of female simple. 



This species varies in color. The upper surface is often entirely 

 piceous. By far the larger number I have seen have a reddish thorax, 

 constituting the variety haematites Newm. One specimen before me 

 is piceous with the head reddish yellow. 



Li. exigua Newm.— Antenna?, piceous, the basal joint yellow. Anterior 

 femora entirely, the middle and posterior yellow at base. Terminal ventral 

 segment of female with a slight tuberosity near the apical margin. 



This species may have the thorax entirely piceous, usually it has 

 the entire margin yellow. The disc is also more densely punctured 

 than in nana, while the form of the thorax is shorter and broader. 

 L. saucia Lee. is synonymous. 



My attention was called to the structure of the last ventral of the 

 female by Dr. John Hamilton, to whom I have often acknowledged 

 my indebtedness for useful observations. 



