360 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Oct., '08 



Notes on Tiger-Beetles and Elevations. 



FRANKLIN SHERMAN, JR., Dept. Agric., Raleigh, N. C. 



In company with Air. C. S. Brimley, I spent the first two 

 weeks of May this year (1908), in the southern part of the 

 mountainous region of western North Carolina, for purposes 

 of zoological exploration. This region contains some of the 

 highest peaks and ranges of the entire Appalachian mountain 

 system, and as it is near the southern terminus of the system, 

 it furnishes an excellent field for observations on the effect 

 of elevation upon distribution. During the trip the counties 

 of Transylvania, Jackson, Macon and Cherokee were collected 

 in to greater or lesser extent, the localities ranging from 2,000 

 to 4,300 feet elevation. 



The season was undoubtedly too early for the best observa- 

 tions on some species of Tiger-beetles, but certain ones which 

 were observed, especially C. purpurea, seemed to show such 

 definite limits of distribution, that it seems worth while to place 

 these observations on record. 



Oicindela repanda. 



Already recorded throughout all the western two-thirds of 

 the state, and at various elevations, but is generally restricted 

 to lighter-colored soils, gravels, sands, etc., in vicinity of 

 streams. One specimen was taken along roadside on moun- 

 tain at Andrews at about 2,500 feet elevation. The only water 

 near was small rills, hardly large and deep enough for me to 

 find opportunity to drink. At Lake Toxaway, 3,000 feet ele- 

 vation, several specimens were taken along shores of lake. 



Cicindela sexguttata. 



The specimens collected on the trip may belong to the variety 

 harrisi. The species was frequently taken, and still more fre- 

 quently seen, at various elevations from 2,000 to 3,500 feet. 

 At Andrews in Cherokee County it was a common species on 

 the lower parts of a mountain road, being mingled at the high- 

 er elevations with splendid a and pur pur ea. It was also com- 

 mon at an elevation of 2,500 to 3,000 feet along road from 

 Highlands to Franklin, in Macon County, and was also taken at 

 Blantyre, Transylvania County, and at Aquone, Macon County. 



