232 



the latter. Having carefully compared and examined both, I 

 am satisfied that the Missouri specimens are distinct from the 

 marginata ; and, as Dejean's name variegata has been dropped, 

 I propose to transfer it to this Missouri species if undescribed. 

 Tliis species should find a place in catalogues near to marginata ; 

 but it does not seem to be included either in your catalogue 

 or in those of Dejean, or Dr. Melsheimer. Has any descrip- 

 tion of it been published ? Though belonging to the same 

 group as marginata, which likewise it strikingly resembles in 

 the white markings of the elytra, it differs essentially in the 

 following particulars. The male wants the posterior tooth near 

 the tip of the right -mandible. The teeth on the edge of the 

 labrum are obsolete (the central one, usually the most promi- 

 nent, being scarcely visible at all). The outer margins of the 

 elytra of the female towards the tip, have a conspicuous tooth, 

 followed by an emargination extending to the apex ; and the 

 inner mai'gin of the apex is not curved downwards. The 

 hinder part of the intermediate band is continuous, not so much 

 dilated, and not broken up into venose fragments. It is some- 

 what smaller and more brilliantly colored than marginata. 

 The posterior angles of the thorax are not elevated ; but before 

 the angles there is a transverse elevated line or tubercle. It is 

 interesting to find a species so closely imitating the elytral 

 markings of marginata, but yet differing from it in other 

 essential characters, althouo-h the most remarkable of these 



' O 



happen to be sexual characters. Perhaps you have not noticed 

 the additional or posterior tooth of the right mandible in the 

 males of Cicindela dorsalis and marginata. If not, let me 

 recommend it to your notice. It is visible only on viewing the 

 mandible sidewise, as it projects backwards nearly at right 

 angles with the posterior face of the mandible. In both sexes 

 of C. dorsalis and G. marginata, and in the male of the Mis- 

 souri species, there is a slight prominence on the outer edge of 

 each elytron towards the tip, followed by a narrowing or straight- 

 ening of the margin backwards ; an indication of an approach to 



