THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 203 



month, but after that time very sparingly. They seemingly emerge around 

 the culms of grass, crawling slowly over the loose sand till they find 

 mates, and always directing their course upward towards the highest 

 point, probably on account of its being the warmest. They appear to 

 require sunshine, warmth and dryness, not being seen when it is cloudy, 

 cold or damp. After pairing the males soon die and lie scattered over the 

 sand, but w'hether the female goes into hibernation or proceeds to oviposit 

 forthwith could not be ascertained. In the latter case there is ample time 

 for the ova to hatch and the larvae to be well developed before severe 

 frost, which would rarely affect them before the middle of November. 



Sphenophorus cariosus Oliv. A few specimens of this beetle were 

 found with retusus^ and its larvae presumably live on the same grass, but, 

 if abundant, its time of development must be earlier. 



Sphenophortis costipcnnis Horn is found sparingly in hibernation under 

 sods around the sand hills, and likewise undoubtedly lives in the larva 

 state on the roots of the same grass, there being nothing else to feed on 

 within a reasonable distance. 



The foregoing species of Sphenophorus seem to prefer dry situations 

 where there is no more moisture than naturally belongs to the soil. 



Sphenophorics placidus Say is, on the contrary, of a more aquatic 

 habit, being abundant on the salt marshes, where its larvae undoubtedly 

 live on the roots of a very fine short grass that grows there densely, and 

 is saturated almost daily with the water of the incoming tides. In Sep- 

 tember the beetle is found in great numbers in hibernation under drifted 

 timber that has become much imbedded in the wet soil and grass, where 

 for much of the time it must be immersed in salt water. 



Sphenophorus pertinax Oliv. Occasionally specimens are found with 

 placidus., but more commonly it occurs in hibernation under sods left in 

 dry places by the highest tides, seemingly requiring less moisture than 

 placidus. 



All the foregoing species of Sphenophorus seem to be widely distributed 

 except retusus, which, so far as known, is strictly maritime and not often 

 taken, at least there are few with whom I exchange whose cabinets I have 

 not supplied. 



LEPIDOPTERA. 



The species found on the island are not numerous. Pieris rapce Lin, 

 is abundant, though cabbage is little cultivated. I found over a dozen of 



