228 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



make observations of this kind upon Cicindela vulgaris Say, in collecting 

 a large number of the beetles, I have made out the appended table, which 

 will explain itself. The dates I give, as they will show how the sexual 

 proportion varies at different times of the season. From my observations 

 it would seem that when the insects first appear in spring the females are 

 much the more numerous ; but that when they first appear in fall the males 

 outnumber the females as two to one. I have taken this species here from 

 3rd March (1882) to 25th October (1884). 



The examination, as shown in the table, of over 1,500 specimens, as 

 the figures stand summed up, shows the average proportion of males to 

 females as r. 15299 + (approximately 1.153) to i ; or 115.3 males to 

 every 100 females. The number examined being so large, the figures will 

 be trustworthy. This is the average proportion through the whole year 

 of those taken while out in their favorite haunts. I have also secured 

 specimens in spring by digging them from their holes, where they had 

 retreated on account of cloudy weather. All that I have ever taken in 

 this manner have invariably been females. Some reference is made to 

 this in the notes at the bottom of the table. 



During the past few seasons I have amassed quite a stock of notes on 

 this species, referring to many random observations on the perfect insects, 

 the more important of which I will here give. As to variation in the 

 elytral markings, many of the smaller specimens (generally ^ ) have the 

 bands narrowed into mere threads, being very much slighter than usual. 

 The markings in both sexes vary from the full, broad bands or lunules to 

 thin threads, and are sometimes partly defaced, as it were, at each end. 

 Occasionally robust specimens (generally % ) are found, which vary from 

 the typical form by having the ground color of the upper parts very dark, 

 approaching to black. In size there is also much variation ; large males 

 and small females occur, though, as is well known, the reverse is the gen- 

 eral rule. Small specimens with well developed lunules also occur, and 

 large ones sometimes liave them narrowed and fainter than common. The 

 male sexual character of the creamy fronts of the mandibulae is well 

 known, but I have taken females with this character nearly as well devel- 

 oped as in the males. 



The pleasant-scented fluid which is so copiously emitted from the 

 mouth is generally of a brownish color ; however, in one specimen that I 

 have noticed it was of a dirty greenish, while in another it was of a brick- 

 red color. This fluid probably serves to soften the parts of insects to be 



