40 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [February, 



In the Serricorn series some of the more conspicuous forms 

 only will be spoken of. The beautiful phosphorescent Elaterid, 

 Pyrophorus physoderus, was rather rare at the time of my visit, 

 though probably more abundant in proper season, Chrysobothris 

 octocola was moderately abundant on huisache* Collops vittaius 

 was common near the river and about the margins of the sloughs 

 (or resacas as they are locally termed), while a pair of C. baltea- 

 tus was seen on the great alkali flats between Brownsville and 

 the sea. Fence posts of native leguminous wood, were badly 

 infested by Sinoxylon sericans and beating tangled thickets was 

 certain to produce plenty of 6". dinoderoides which came no doubt 

 from dead twigs and branches. Amphicerus ptindipennis was 

 found boring in the solid wood and occasionally just under the 

 bark of hnisache, while Polycaon obliquus and plicatns were 

 attracted to light. Two specimens of Elasmocerus tenninatus 

 were captured, one in my room, another by beating. C/erus 

 abrnptus was rare, C. quadrisignatns more common, the latter 

 chiefly about yuccas or under loose bark. Chariessa vestita, one 

 of our most beautiful insects, with violaceous upper surface and 

 sanguineous abdomen was twice seen running about on fence 

 posts in the hot sunshine. One Cregya vetusla and several C. 

 oculata were taken by beating tangles of vines and bushes. A 

 great number of Rhipidandrns peninsularis (described from 

 Lower California by Dr. Horn), inhabited a polyporoid fungus, 

 boring through it like some species of Cis. 



Lamellicorns were few; Canthon Itzvis was abundant along the 

 stage line, especially in sandy spots, but much less common at 

 Bro\ynsville. C. ebemis occurred farther up the river at Laredo, 

 while a single C. simplex was found in July. Charidium histeroidcs 

 put in an appearance occasionally. Onthophagus cribricolli?. was 

 found in small numbers under dung in the pastures attached to 

 Fort Brown. At<znius abditus and strigahis, Aphodius vitfatus, 

 ruricola and lividus all came to hand at times, but nothing large 

 or fine was seen with the exception of Stratcgus julianus. a 

 single specimen of which flew across my path, to its own 

 destruction on the evening preceding my departure. 



Cerambycidae were tolerably numerous and several forms prove 

 to be new, either to science or to our fauna, while others are 



* A thorny leguminous tree, belonging to the group of Mimosas. It is abundant near 

 Brownsville. 



