COLLEMBOLA OF MINNESOTA 87 



of antennae, and the dark line connecting the eyes, and, most no- 

 ticeable of all, it has four small black eye spots in place of two 

 larger ones. The species is to the genus Lepidocyrtus prac- 

 tically what the genus Sinella is to the genus Entomobrya, only 

 the ocellar reduction is less advanced. Probably this .six-eyed 

 species, in connection with the ten-eyed one, will form a bridge 

 over which we may bring back the eyeless Cyphodeirus to the 

 genus from which it was taken. 



Lepidocyrtus purpureus Lubb. 

 PI. VII, Figs. 9-12. 



1873. Lepidocyrtus purpureus. Lubbock, Monogr. Coll. and Thys. p. 155. 



PI. XXX. 



1890. Lepidocyrtus purpureus. Uzel, Thys. Bohemise. p. 51. 



1895. Lepidocyrtus purpureus. Reuter, Finl. Coll. p. 18. 



1896. Lepidocyrtus purpureus. Schaffer, Coll. von Hamburg, p. 201 



The original description reads : "Intensely deep blue with 

 beautiful, purple reflections. Legs' and basal segment of an- 

 tennae yellow. Third segment of the antennae shorter than the 

 second. Thorax with an upright fringe and a central tuft of 

 short setae. Length, .045 of an inch; breadth, .013." 



Schaffer's description speaks of the thickly set, iridescent 

 scales and says that "Ant. Ill is at least one-third shorter than 

 II. The first three antennal segments are shorter than the head, 

 Ant. IV as long as II and III together. Dentes little longer 

 than the manubrium. Dark blue. Ant. I and II (excepting 

 the blue end), legs and dentes whitish or yellowish. Length, 



i mm.' 



The coloration in our specimens exhibits a peculiarity which 

 is noticeably different from those described. The top of the 

 head is quite yellowish, even bright yellow in many specimens. 

 The coxae of the legs, and the ventral tube are blue, the remain- 

 der of the legs usually brownish yellow. The manubrium is 

 usually of a diffuse blue, the dentes clear. The mucrones is as 

 in L. albicans, with the "basaldorn" very slender and even some- 

 times lacking, owing, perhaps, to accidental breakage. The an- 

 tennae are short and comparatively stouter than in L. albicans. 

 As to the relative lengths of the various antennal segments 

 there is more or less of variation, so that they hardly merit the 



