Sept. 1896] Wickham: Larv.^ of Some Beetles. 119 



jointed, although what appears as the first joint may possibly be merely 

 a cephalic process. The second and third joints are of about equal 

 length, though the third is of much less diameter ; the fourth is small 

 and springs from a termino-lateral point instead of from the center of 

 the tip of the third. Mandibles very heavy; in lateral outline they show 

 a strongly bidentate tip, while the inner edge near the base is serrate. 

 One mandible (in a balsam mount) shows also a strong tooth just above 

 the serrated portion. Maxillae with subcylindrical outer lobe, which 

 is somewhat smaller toward apex ; inner lobe sub-reniform, face with 

 numerous shortish spines; palpus 3-jointed, joints not greatly differing 

 among themselves in length but decreasing gradually in thickness. 

 Mentum slightly elongate, truncate at tip, ligula with sides oblique 

 from the base to the broadest portion, which is slightly posterior to the 

 point of insertion of the palpi; angles rounded, apex with median pro- 

 longation bearing at tip a pair of rather short divergent bristles ; palpi 

 two-jointed, the second joint slightly shorter and much more slender. 

 A dissection exposing the upper floor of the labium shows a basi- 

 median parabolic band of pubescence (see Fig. i, mt.), surrounding 

 a strong brown chitinous piece, articulated to another support at its pos- 

 terior extremity. A similar structure is found in the mouth of Hymen- 

 orus. Clypeus about twice as broad as long, narrower anteriorly, angles 

 rounded ; labrum somewhat semicircular in outline, surface bristled as 

 shown in figure. 



Prothorax longer than the meso or metathorax, the last two about 

 equal to each other. Abdomen of nine segments, the first seven differ- 

 ing but little in length among themselves, the eighth a little shorter, the 

 ninth much so ; it is terminated by a pair of short spines springing from 

 the dorso-posterior margin. Legs short, coxk conical, trochanters tri- 

 angular in lateral view, outer side much the longest, femora broader at 

 tip, tibire narrowed to apex, claw curved, simple, bearing two bristles 

 near the base on the lower surface. Spiracles nine, the largest situated 

 near antero-lateral mesothoracic margin ; segments one to eight of the 

 abdomen, each with one near the latero-median point. 



The specimens described were given me by Dr. F. E. Blaisdell, 

 who obtained them in woody fungi in Calaveras Co., California. 

 Meracantha contracta Beauv. (Fig. 2.) 



Form elongate cylindrical, not tapering; color yellowish or brown- 

 ish, the iiead and dorso-median portions of all the segments darker, 

 ventral surface paler than the upper. Length of full grown specimen 

 19 mm. Head slightly narrower than the prothorax, shining, rather 



