THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 187 



p/itlus glabcr, while P. ochracats is abundant on the meadows under 

 boards and pieces of wood. 



Emplaiota inarithna Casey. I'his minute insect lias only recently 

 received a name, generic and specific. It is found in moderate abund- 

 ance on the coast under the debris cast up by the waves and left by some 

 of the higher tides along the high-water line, after it has remained undis- 

 turbed for three or four days. It is readily recognized by its great resem- 

 blance to a small Aleochara ; length, .12 to .16 inch ; head deflexed; sides 

 of abdomen strongly margined ; color piceous black with the anterior 

 border of the abdominal segments pale. It is usually found in company 

 with Cafijis bistriahis and Fhaleria testacea , without vigilance it will be 

 overlooked. (See Number I., Contributions to the Descriptive and Sys- 

 tematic Coleopterology of North America.- b\ Thos. L. Casey, Lieut, of 

 Eng'rs, U. S. A.) 



Qucdius brunnipennis Mann, is sparingly found under the debris left 

 by the high tides along the margins of the meadows. Staphylinus prm- 

 longus INIann. occurs in the same situations much more abundantly. ^. 

 viilpinns, S. foment osus and Ocypus ater are found with it rarely, and more 

 properly belong to the main land. 



Cafius bistriatus Er. is met with as stated under E. maritima, and is 

 rather abundant. The debris should be shaken over the white sand, on 

 which the insects may readily be seen as they fall. It is easily known bv 

 its brown color and bistriate thorax. 



Bledius mandibularis Lee. is exceedingly abundant in the meadows 

 on bare sandy places not often covered by the tide, but kept constantlv 

 damp by capillary attraction. One, as in the case of the writer, might 

 pass over them for years unconscious of their presence till discovered by 

 accident. They live in galleries at a depth of from six to ten inches 

 beneath the surface, the entrance to which is surrounded by castings 

 |Similar to those made by earth worms. The upper portion of these open- 

 ings is used by two or three species of small crustaceans for a retreat, and 

 irhen the novice scoopo over the wet sand, finding these and considering 

 them the excavators, he goes no further, and the real architect several 

 piches deeper escapes detection. The species is one of the finest of the 

 genus. 



Bledius cordatiis Say, though existing in countless multitudes, is not 

 3ften found, being small, and mostly inhabiting the grassy parts of the 

 neadows. They occasionally fly at night in swarms, but whether this 



