560 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [October, 



base. Body with scattered short white hairs, some longer and finer ones 

 near tip of abdomen. Femora i and 2 about as long as width of the pro- 

 thorax, slightly enlarged ; hind femora as long as abdomen is broad at 

 base, much swollen, shining, with a few hairs, and scarcely a trace of the 

 tooth near base. 

 Length i mm. 



This handsome species is described from man} 7 specimens 

 found running over dry boards at Falls Church, Virginia, 

 June, 1899. They hide in the cracks and walk out leisurely 

 enough, but if disturbed run with amazing swiftness so that 

 they are difficult' of capture. They did not jump. 



Troctes niger n. sp 



Whole body dull blackish ; antennas paler at tips ; tarsi and part of 

 tibia also pale ; sternum dark ; venter pale brown ; head rather darker 

 than abdomen, which is darkest on the margins ; legs brown. 



Head broad, slightly rounded on the sides ; nasus not very prominent ; 

 head with scattered short pale hairs ; eyes small. Antennae like the pre- 

 ceding species. Prothorax transverse, trilobate in front ; meso- and 

 metathorax in one shield, faintly rugose, broader than long and narrower 

 in front, with an oblique impression each side and a median suture on the 

 fore part. Abdomen truncate at base, plainly broader in middle, and 

 broadly rounded behind, with many short erect scattered white hairs, a 

 few larger ones behind. Legs as in T. bicolor ; hind femur with an 

 obtuse tooth on outside above at greatest part of swelling. 



Length .9 mm. 



Several specimens found on the under side of dead and de- 

 caying logs in woods near Falls Church, Virginia, June. They 

 did not run very rapidly when disturbed and did not jump. 



THE University of the State of Missouri has sent an entomological ex- 

 pedition into Southern Mexico this past Summer. It was in charge of 

 Prof. J. M. Stedman, head of the Entomological Department, and had 

 for its object the making of a biological, largely entomological, survey of 

 the region from Vera Cruz on the Gulf, which is in perpetual tropics, to 

 the top of the volcano Popocatepetl, which is far above the perpetual 

 snow line, and down to Acapulco on the Pacific. This will give all the 

 temperature variations from perpetual tropics to perpetual snow, and will 

 allow of the study of life zones under conditions not to be found elsewhere 

 in North America. The collection will become the property of the Uni- 

 versity, which is to furnish half the expenses, the other half to be borne 

 by Prof. Stedman. 



