1898.] . ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. IQ5 



The unique type of Drachylis may be described as follows 

 from the female : 



Drachylis simulans n. sp. Form as in -Sponidiuin bicolor, but slightly 

 broader across the humeri, rufo-testaceous throughout, the elytra and 

 metasternum black; pubescence minute, pale, decumbent and dense as 

 usual. Head elongate, broadly convex, minutely, closely punctulate, the 

 eyes separated on the front by very nearly their own width; palpi and 

 antennae missing in the type. Prothorax slightly elongate, of the usual 

 campanulate form, with everted and acute basal angles; median line very 

 feebly impressed near the middle; surface convex and minutely, closely 

 punctulate. Scutellum rufous, rather pointed behind. Elytra three times 

 as long as wide, two-fifths wider than the prothorax, the humeri slightly 

 prominent, but rounded ; sides more rapidly convergent and rounded 

 toward tip, the individual apices rounded; disc minutely, closely punctu- 

 late, each elytron with two feeble, oblique ridges toward base ; suture 

 minutely margined ; fifth ventral with a small, rounded notch at apex. 

 Legs long and slender as usual, the tarsi short. Length 12.0 mm.; width 

 3.1 mm. California (Placer County). 



The possession of thick and rather short tarsi, with absence 

 of ungual appendage and pectination, renders this species pro- 

 foundly different from the others of the family, and, in view of 

 the extreme similarity to Sponidium bicolor in outward habitus, 

 is indeed remarkable. The resemblance is so great as to have 

 deceived Dr. Horn, who, upon cursory examination, placed the 

 type example kindly lent me by Mr. Fuchs with typical indi- 

 viduals of his bicolor from the coast regions ol the State (Proc. 

 Cal. Acad. Sci. 2, vi, p. 381). 



The general characters of the family have been given in some 

 detail "by the writer (Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. ix, p. 649). The 

 paper of Dr. Horn, above referred to, was unknown to me at 

 that time, and 1 am glad to find, from the types communicated 

 by Mr. Fuchs, that there has been no confusion and redescription 

 of species, the two described by me being amply distinct from 

 those of Dr. Horn made known so short a time before. 



-o- 



RECOLLECTIONS OF OLD COLLECTING GROUNDS. 



By H. F. WICKHAM, Iowa City, Iowa. 

 V. THE COLORADO DESERT AND ITS ENVIRONS. 



Along the boundary between California and Arizona lies a great 

 valley traversed by the lower Colorado River. It is elevated but 

 a few hundred feet above sea-level and is bordered on each side 



