164 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



Kansas Academy of Science for 1S76, a slight account was published by 

 Mr. H. A. Brous, but from the very small number taken by him, his 

 article was necessarily imperfect. I have taken more than five hundred 

 living specimens from the plains of Western Kansas during the past two 

 years, and have watched their habits closely. Without being aware of 

 Dr. LeConte's suggestion as to their nocturnal habits, one would readily 

 arrive at that conclusion from the large numbers of their remains con- 

 stantly met with scattered about, or in the excrement of nocturnal birds. 

 With the first living specimen their peculiar habitat was readily under- 

 stood. They may be met with in great abundance on gently sloping 

 banks of firm loam, but partially covered with vegetation ; they will not 

 live in banks at all sandy. They never burrow, but enter any convenient 

 hole at the approach of the sun, to come out again and wander in search 

 of food at sunset. In cloudy days they will remain out, but with the first 

 sunlight they disappear into their retreats, not to return until evening. 

 The first one taken this year was on a pleasant evening in May, the 21st ; 

 but, though hunted for assiduously, no more were taken till near the middle 

 of June. In a week or two later they were found in the greatest 

 abundance. 



The males, at first numerous, invariably soon begin to decrease in 

 number, -and are more abundant early in the evening. By the .middle 

 of September the females also have become rare. 



The eggs are deposited near the surface of the ground, in groups of 

 from one to two dozen. The young larvffi immediately burrow down- 

 wards, but come to the surface at dark to lie in wait for food, which 

 consists mostly of ants and small insects. The holes are extended to 

 surprising depths. In some instances I have traced them for nearly three 

 feet. The mature larvae are over two inches long, with very strong man- 

 dibles and maxillae. They may be found most readily either in May or 

 August. Singularly unlike the imago, they are very shy and easily 

 alarmed. 



The adult beetle might very appropriately be called stupid. Their 

 power of sight is extremely feeble. Wandering aimlessly about in search 

 of food, they are first apprised of their prey by their antenna, when by a 

 short, sudden spring they fasten their relentless mandibles into their victim. 



Their food consists in large part of the smaller apterous TenebrionidK, 

 such as the Eleodes or Asidce. that are found on the plains in such abund- 

 ance, especially during the time and in the places so peculiar to the 



