70 PROCEEDESTGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. 121 



The large pronotal punctures of this species are distinctive, although 

 it might be confused mth similis in the same area. The pimctures of 

 chiricahuae are larger than in similis, the antennae are shorter, and 

 it has a weak, shallow mandibular pit. The male and female genitaUa 

 are easily distinguished from other species. 



Species Incertae 

 Melanotus abdominalis (Erichson) 



Cratonychus abdominalis Erichson, 1842, p. 104. — LeConte, 1853, p. 481. 

 Melanotus abdominalis.' — Candfeze, 1860, p. 352. 



Type.— Holotype: Female, "Amer. Sept." (ZM, 17036). Only 

 specimen in type series. 



This species has subequal second and third antennal segments, a 

 jutting frontal margm, fine dense pronotal pimctures, and a long, 

 slender, heavily spmed female bursa. It is imlike any species which 

 we have encountered in North America and is imfamiliar to us. We 

 suspect that it is not a North American species and the type has been 

 labelled in error. 



Melanotus cinereus (Weber) 



Elater cinereus Weber, 1801, p. 77. 



This species is usually listed as a synonym of similis (=Jissilis) or 

 communis, but the types apparently are lost, and we are unable to 

 apply the name to a known species. 



Melanotus despectus Candeze 



Melanotus despectus Candfeze, 1860, p. 343. 



We have not seen types of this species, but Mr. Lane (in litt.) 

 states that he saw specimens at the Deutschen Entomologischen 

 Institut, Berlin, which might be the types. According to Lane, 

 these are the same as ignobilis and if those specimens can be sho^vn to 

 be types, despectus would fall as a synonym of ignobilis. 



Melanotus effetus Candeze 



Melanotus effetus Candfeze, 1860, p. 355. 



This may be only a small form of communis according to Lane 

 (in litt.), who found specimens at the Zoologische Museum der 

 Humboldt-Universitat that might be the types. 



