18 
GEO. H. HORN, M. D. 
Group MELSHEIMERI. 
Prosternal sutures arcuate and couvergeut posteriorly. Maxillary 
palpi not promiiieiit, the last joint elongate triangular, the apex 
rounded. Thorax asperate, or subgranulate in front, becoming 
gradually quite smooth posteriorly, the base without incisures. Ely- 
tra striate ; tibiae slender, spurs small ; surface usually shining, elytra 
often ornate. Body winged. 
A group of small species standing naturally betw^een the choris and 
perplexus series. Its essential character is in the sculpture of the 
thorax, the anterior portion being quite roughly or more densely 
sculptured, and the basal portion quite smooth. Some curious sexual 
peculiarities have been observed in some of them, of rare occurrence 
in Elateridae, but by no means rare in Eucnemidae, consisting of tu- 
bercles or pubescent spots on the first two ventral segments. 
The elements composing the group are by no means homogeneous, 
and might be again divided as the last three species have not that 
very marked difference in sculpture of the thorax so well shown in 
the others. As a whole, the group is known from the striatulus series 
by its more convex form and the evident inequality of the thoracic 
punctuation ; from the choris series by the opaque, granular thorax 
of these ; the j)erplexus series has usually a sparsely punctate thorax, 
and in any event the punctures are equal and equally disposed. 
The following species are known to occur in our fauna : 
Prosternal sutures widely double, smooth and grooved in nearly their entire 
length ; thorax simply emarginate at apex when seen from above. 
Antennae and legs pale; anterior tibiae of male not broader than in female, 
the first ventral 'J, with a flattened space at middle enclosing a 
tubercle Melsliei meri. 
Antennae piceous, tip of first and the second and third joints paler; legs j)ale, 
femora darker ; anterior tibiae of male nearly twice as broad as in 
the female, the first ventral 'J, scarcely flattened, but with an oval 
hairy spot quad rig uttatus. 
Antennae piceous, paler at base; legs pale, femora piceous; anterior tibiae of 
male not broader, the first and second ventrals of male with a tu- 
bercle near the posterior border vatiriiius. 
Antennae as in qiiadriguttatus, legs similar; anterior tibiae of male broader 
than in female, but less marked; first ventral of male gibbous be- 
tween the coxae, rather suddenly declivous posteriorly and fringed 
with longer hair dermestoides. 
Prosternal sutures very narrowly double, not grooved. 
Carina of the hind angles of thorax extending to or beyond the middle of the 
thorax. 
