Pomona College Journal op Entomology 661 



Gnathomerium melanonotum Wood 



Syn. Mecistocephalus limatus Wood 



Mecistocephalus quadratus Wood 

 Geophilus glabcr Bollman 



This is a widespread species on the Pacific Coast, ranging throughout most 

 of California and northward to Canada. It is conspicuously attenuated from the 

 head caudad, resembling in its proportions a Mecistocephalus. The head and 

 antennae are reddisli brown, the latter tipped with pale ; the body is of tlie usual 

 brownish yellow color but having in most a decided greenish or olivaceous tinge ; 

 along tlic dorsum there is commonly a black stripe which is mostly geminate or 

 double. The ceplialic plate is attenuated caudad, widely rounded posteriorly. 

 Frontal suture distinct. Prebasal plate not exposed. The claws of the prchen- 

 sorial feet wlien closed extend beyond the front margin of the head mucli ; first 

 joint and claw armed witliin with well developed teeth, the intermediate articles 

 with inconspicuous denticles. The first spiracle nearly circular, being slightly 

 vertically elliptic, and it is much larger than the second. The last ventral plate is 

 moderately wide. The coxopleurse bear a number of mostly small pores both below 

 and above. The number of pairs of legs varies mostly from forty-seven to 

 fifty-five, forty-nine and fifty-one being common, and in the southern part of 

 the state the number ranges prevailingly from fifty-nine to sixty-five pairs. 

 Adults mostly from 35 to 50 mm. in length. 



Specimens from within the state have been seen from the following localities: 

 Shasta Springs, Oroville, Pacific Grove, Point Lobos, Sausalito, Berkeley and 

 Stanford (collected by writer), and from Claremont and neighboring mountains 

 (Prof. Baker, collector). 



Genus Taiyuna gen. nov. 



Head large, the bodj' scarcely narrowed cephalad, strongly so caudad. Tlie 

 labrum with side pieces lapping well over the ends of the middle one but not 

 contiguous mesally ; middle pieces with many closely set, stout spines on free 

 edge, the lateral pieces with comparatively few, these being bent strongly mesad. 

 Palpi of first maxillae with long membranous lappets. Palpi of second maxillse 

 wholly without processes. Ventral pores not detected. Last ventral plate narrow. 

 CoxopleurEC with a number of small pores. Anal legs composed of six articles 

 beyond Coxopleura ; claw absent or rather slender if present. 



Type. — Taiyuna occidentalis Meinert. 



Taiyuna occidentalis Meinert 

 Syn. Geophilus calif orniensis Bollman. 

 This species is widespread in the state and shows corresponding variation. 

 The number of pairs of legs in specimens about San Francisco, the type locality, 

 varies from sixty-seven to seventy-five, seventy-one and seventy-three being 

 commonest; but, as usual with members of the group, in going south the number 

 increases. At Los Angeles the author found individuals witli as high as eighty- 

 seven pairs {isantus Chamb., var.) which seemed distinct until more abundant 



