VOL. III. | Observations on Cicindelide. 47 
° 
No stronger argument could be advanced to show how utterly 
valueless the shell is for the purpose of determining genera. Had 
this shell been accidentally washed into the creek below-and found 
dead in the water as it was found in the cave, neither Dr. Cooper 
nor any other naturalist would have hesitated a moment to have 
described it as a Planorbis, which it closely resembles. 
Even with the animal known, the authorities do not agree on its 
genera, or its position in our system of classification. 
Mr. Tryon recognized Dr. Cooper's genus Ammonitella, but 
Mr. Binney, Mr. R. E. C. Stearns and Mr. Pilsbry, equally as good 
authority, refer the shell to Gonostoma. 
Mr. Binney, than whom there is no better authority on these 
animals, says of Gonostoma: ‘Animal, as in Patula.”’ 
Now, if the animal is a Patula, should we not place this shell 
with or near the genus Patula, instead of separating it as we do 
now ? 
I do not write this in a spirit of criticism, but to draw attention 
to what I believe to be an error in our system of classification of 
these creatures, and which seems to me to be inconsistent with 
nature and the philosophy she teaches. 
——— 
NOTES ON THE CICINDELID OBSERVED IN SAN 
DIEGO COUNTY, CAL. 
BY F. E. BLAISDELL. 
Omus. It is doubtful if any species of Omus occurs south of 
the 35th parallel. At Port Harford, San Luis Obispo County, I 
have taken what is probably O. /econte?, and I consider that locality — 
the southern limit of distribution of the genus. 
Cicindela latisignata Lec. Plentiful from May to October, on the 
ocean beach and alkaline flats; not found about inland streams and 
ponds. : 
Cicindela tenuicincta Schaupp. In company with the preceding 
form, with which it is identical. The creation of the present sub- 
species is ostensibly based upon the elytral markings. In /atisignata 
there is an excessive increase in the white; while in ¢enwicincta there 
there is a close approach to the typical pattern as exhibited by vul- 
garis ‘the central pattern from which all forms observed in our 
Cicindelze have been derived, either by a progressive spreading of 
the white, or its gradual absorption and fragmentation.’’—Horn. 
