OF WASHINGTON. 75 



Colorado last year, Dr. Dyar and I followed the general custom 

 and made the ascent. We arrived at the summit of the peak 

 about 4 P. M., and took a walk to see what we could find in the 

 way of insects. A sharp wind was blowing and it was so cold 

 that we feared but little would be found. The summit is one 

 great mass of irregularly shaped blocks. of granite No vegetation 

 was seen except a little grass and a few small, brightly colored 

 flowers, which had found root in a level spot some way down the 

 side of the mountain. Here we found a number of small beetles, 

 Phyllotreta pus ilia Horn, and we thought this was to constitute 

 the whole of our catch. But fortunately such was not to be the 

 case, for a couple of small snow fields yielded results appreciated 

 only after our return to Washington, when, upon getting their 

 identification completed, I find there are no less than 78 different 

 species. Though we collected many more species lower down 

 the mountain, and ones of more value, it is only these specimens 

 found on snow that I wish to discuss. 



There were two of the snow fields, one very small, hardly more 

 than a couple of rods across, and one larger one, something over 

 an acre in area. They lay a hundred yards or so below the Sum 

 mit House on the south side of the mountain, and were crusted 

 over sufficiently to bear up the weight of a man. The insects 

 were found scattered over the surface and their bodies were par 

 tially sunken into the snow. In nearly all cases they were either 

 dead or so benumbed with cold as to be almost motionless. But 

 one exception occurred, that of the little Chrysomelid beetles men 

 tioned above, which were found in great numbers clustered about 

 the bodies of larger insects. They were perfectly active, a num 

 ber taking flight when disturbed. 



With few exceptions all the insects are inhabitants of the boreal 

 region of the foot hills and not true alpine forms. They were 

 doubtless carried to this high altitude by ascending currents of air 

 and, once up, the foolish, inexperienced creatures were attracted 

 to the smooth, glistening snow fields, there to perish. 



Not more than half an hour was consumed in gathering the 

 specimens, and at the time I estimated the number of species rep 

 resented to be not more than twenty. Had I known there were 

 nearly four times that number I would have made further efforts 

 at collecting and additional species would probably have resulted. 



For the identifications I am indebted to Mr. Coquillett in the 

 Diptera, and Mr. Ashmead in the Hymenoptera, except the For- 

 micidae which were determined by Mr. Pergande. Mr. Schwarz 

 named the Coleoptera and Mr. Herbert Barber furnished me with 

 their distribution. Mr. Banks named the single species of Neurop- 

 tera, and the Orthoptera I identified myself. The lists of Lepi- 

 doptera and Hymenoptera, containing original matter, are 

 signed by their respective authors. 



