THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 103 



their primitive state, and I have seen specimens from Maryland, West 

 Virginia and Eastern Ohio. 



Atcenius, Vol. XVI., 189. — 'The species mentioned as undescribed has 

 since been described by Dr. Horn under the name Wenzeli. 



Epitragus arundifiis, ib., 190, is found abundantly in August and 

 September, feeding on the pollen of the beech grass growing on the sandy 

 dunes, the underground stems of which probably sustain the larvse. 



Lixus concavus, Vol. XVII., 38. — It is quite possible the bottle of 

 cyanide of potassium, in which this beetle was placed for several days, 

 may have contained no free hydro-cyanic acid, as the cork was airtight ; 

 therefore this proof of the longevity of the beetle is invalid. 



Ij>s fasciatus, ib., 46. — Lately the melanotic forms have occurred 

 here in midsummer about as frequently as the fasciated. The difference 

 in color does not appear to be either seasonal or racial. If a locality 

 exists where either form is alone found it is unknown to me. If melanism 

 depends on cold, a latitude or altitude should be reached where there 

 would be only dark forms, and vice versa. The color of such of the 

 European forms of Ips as I have seen appears to be more constant than 

 in ours. The markings on /. 4-guttatus Linn., which appears to be the 

 same as our fasciatus, only with a perceptibly finer punctation, are very 

 uniform in the numerous specimens I have seen, consisting of a humeral 

 ♦spot, trilobate in form, and two roundish ones behind the middle of the 

 elytra, either separate or united like dumb-bells, yellowish or reddish. 

 The suggestion of Mr. T. D. A. Cockerell, of Colorado, that humidity 

 may be a potent factor in determining the color in variable species, seems 

 deserving of consideration. 



Macrobasis unicolor, ib., 48. — A nursery of young locusts (Robinia 

 pseud-acacice), growing on a stony knoll surrounded by meadows, was 

 almost defoliated last July by swarms of this beetle. This knoll had pro- 

 bably been used the previous season by the grasshoppers (Locustidce) of 

 the meadows as the grand depository for their eggs, which were un- 

 doubtedly the food of the larvae of these beetles ; and which, after dis- 

 closure, promptly, in their voracity, attacked the nearest Leguminosa. 

 This species is usually classed in economic entomology as noxious, 

 because it occasionally eats a few beans, etc. ; but it is certainly entitled to 

 rank among the first on the list of beneficial, as without its friendly aid it 

 is greatly to be feared the grasshopper would quickly become so numer- 

 ous as to seriously affect agriculture. 



