NATURAL SCIENCES OP PHILADELPHIA. 69 



Catalogue of the Coleoptera of Fort Tejon, California. 

 BY JOHN L. LECONTE, M. D. 



The present paper contains a list of the species of Coleoptera collected at Fort 

 Tejon, during 1857 and 1858, by the indefatigable naturalist, Mr. John Xantus, 

 (de Vesey), which were found to be remarkable in many respects. The number 

 of species obtained (147) is very small for the time during which they were 

 collected, and the proportion of new species (52) is very large. These facts are 

 in accordance with the general principles of the geographical distribution of or- 

 ganized beings in Pacific North America, stated by me at the meeting of the Ame- 

 rican Association for the Advancement of Science, held at Albany in 1851 . Several 

 genera not previously known to science are herein described, one of which, 

 Aplastus, completes beautifully the series between normal Elateridse and Cebrio, 

 previously indicated by Plastocerus and Euthysanius. A large and singular 

 species of Hetaerius was also found. Important is the fact that the species 

 formerly referred by me to Malachius, are to be separated therefrom, as it 

 diminishes the small number of exceptions to the principle announced by me, 

 that no genus was common to Europe and Pacific America, without being re- 

 presented in Atlantic America. 



I have not included some Staphylinidse in the collection, which, with the 

 exception of a small Isomalus, were previously found by me in other parts of 

 California, hoping at a future time to bring them with a vast number of other new 

 species of that family into a monograph. Two species of Curculionidffiare also 

 omitted, for the reason that it will involve more labor to determine the genera to 

 which they belong, than I can properly devote to the subject at present. 



1. Onius calif ornicus. A male of this species from Fort Tejon differs 

 from those found at San Francisco, by the thorax being much rounded on the 

 sides, especially before the middle. Judging from analogy of distribution of 

 other insects in California, this would indicate a difference of a specific nature. 

 Should the occurrence of other similar specimens warrant this conclusion, the 

 name 0. X a n t i would be appropriate. 



2. Cyclmxs punctatus, ater capite thoraceque opacis alutaceis, hoc 

 latitudine haud breviore, postice angustato lateribus marginatis, rotundatis 

 postice sinuatis, ante basin transversim profunde impresso, elytris striis grosse 

 punctatis, ventricosis, convexis, postice acutis. Long. *60 *68. 



Abundant at Fort Tejon. Allied to C. ventricosus and others, but differs by 

 the thorax being more gradually narrowed behind, and not suddenly constrict- 

 ed; as also by the sculpture. 



3. Cychrus striatus, ater, capite thoraceque subopacis, alutaceis, hoc 

 latitudine longiore, postice angustato, lateribus marginatis, rotundatis postice 

 sinuatis, ante basin transversim profunde impresso, elytris ovalibus convexis, 

 postice acutis, striis profunde punctatis. Long. 62. 



One male, Fort Tejon. Related to the preceding ; but the thorax is longer, 

 more sinuate on the sides behind, so that they become parallel, but still with- 

 out being constricted. The elytra are narrower and less ventricose, the strise 

 are deeper and the punctures smaller. 



4. Calathus ruf ic olli s . 



5. Platynus cine tell us. 6. P. c ali f o r nic us . 7. P. f os s ig e r . 

 8. Pterostichus contractus. 9. P. californicus {simplex Lee.) 

 10. P. vicinus {californicus Lee.) 11. P. lustrans. 



12. Anisodactylus (Dichirus) p i c e u s (parallelus Lee.) 13. A. brevicol- 

 lis. 14. A. simil i s. 

 15 . Bradycellus n i t i d u s . 



1(1. Chloenius variabilipes (asperulus Men. ; obscurus Lee.) 

 17. Hydrophilus t ri an gularis . 18. H. californicus. 



19. Necrophorus nigrita. 



20. Silpha lapponica. 



21. Cercus sericans, oblongus modice convexus, fuscus, punctatus, pube 



1859.] 



