244 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



Dermestes tristis, n. sp. — Length, .22-. 26 inch. Elongate convex, 

 parallel, black, clothed above with black pubescence, with a sprinkling of 

 paler hairs on the prothorax, and rarely mottled with cinereous hairs on 

 the elytra. Scutellum densely clothed with ochreous hairs, usually form- 

 ing the only relief to the sombre aspect of the upper surface. Thorax 

 not very obtusely rounded in front, anterior portion of lateral margin 

 invisible from above, sides uniformly rounded, slightly sinuate before the 

 front angles, which are distinct and only slightly obtuse. Surface of 

 thorax densely, more coarsely punctate than usual. Beneath clothed as 

 usual with dense white pubescence, with lateral series of black spots ; pre- 

 vailing colour of last ventral whitish ; legs annulated with white. Males 

 with median pits on third and fourth ventrals, tarsi clothed beneath 

 with spinous hairs. Occurs in various parts of maritime So. California, 

 and on Santa Rosa Island. 



One of our smallest species, perhaps most nearly resembling 

 talpinus. The latter is, however, more robust, with ochreous and gray 

 mottlings on the elytra, sides of thorax more strongly rounded near the 

 base, and pubescent male tarsi. 



It seems not to have been noticed that in a considerable number of 

 our species of Dermestes the front and middle tarsi of the male are rather 

 densely pubescent beneath. The character is an important one and 

 enables us to establish the distinctness oi Mannerheimii, which has never 

 looked right as a variety of marmoratiis. These last named species may 

 then be thus compared : 



Marmoratus.— Size large (.40-.45 in.), elytra mottled with ochreous 

 and cinereous hairs, tarsi spinous beneath in both sexes. 



Mannerheimii. — Size smaller (.24-32 in.), elytra mottled with cinereous 

 only, front and middle tarsi ( $ ) pubescent beneath. 



Hepialus quadriguttatus, Grote. — This large salmon-pink variety 

 was taken this year near Metis, P. Q. Messrs. L. Reford and E. Brainerd, 

 of Montreal, chanced one day to pick up the wing of a specimen on a 

 little dry area in a swamp several miles from Metis. They returned to 

 the village for a lantern, and then tramped back again. Their industry 

 was rewarded by ihe capture of two specimens. They saw five others, 

 and report that the moths appeared about nine o'clock p.m., and flew in 

 a zigzag horizontally, not up and down like H. thule. This species has 

 been taken in Ontario by Mr. Elcome, at Peterborough, and at Roach's 

 Point, Lake Simcoe, 



