46 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST* 



would look for it in no other place. But last summer I found a number 

 of them under the bark of Ulmus fulva (slippery elm), the odor of which 

 in the same state of decomposition is as rank as that of Robinia. With 

 them were several H. lucida. The individuals of these two species so 

 approximate as in some examples to be scarcely separable ; and indeed 

 there is a reasonable doubt whether any of them are instinctively conscious 

 of being specifically different. 



Ips fasciatus Oliv. This well known species is very variable in size, 

 color and sculpture. Several of these color variations have been described 

 as species, as : 4-guttatus Fab., 4-sigTiatus Say, bipustulatus Mels., 6-pus- 

 tulatus Reitter. Quadriguttatus Fab. is the European form, and though 

 described subsequently to fasciatus Oliv., is still retained in the European 

 catalogues, as the form fasciatus does not occur there, as I am informed. 



The form fasciatus is the most common here, and is that into which 

 all the others are resolved ; in it the elytra are black with an irregular 

 broad basal, and a sub-apical fascia, yellow ; individuals are met with 

 totally black without any spot ; others have only a small basal and sub- 

 apical spot yellow (more often reddish) ; others add to these a humeral 

 lunule ; others have various other spots, and by the gradual dilation and 

 coalescing of these through a series of specimens, the full form fasciatus 

 is reached, which can be readily verified by any one who takes the trouble. 



The point I wish to present is the seasonal character of the melanism. 

 I have never met with these black and spotted forms at any other time 

 than in early spring, usually during April, at the sap of trees, especially 

 birch and maple. As the season advances these entirely disappear, and 

 the fasciate form alone remains, continuing till autumn. Some of these 

 probably hibernate (though this is not established by observation), and 

 appear in the spring among the recently developed melanotic variations. 

 Whether the fasciate form decreases northwardly and increases south- 

 wardly has not been ascertained, but two specimens from Mt. Washington 

 and two from Montana are of the form 4-guttatus. As the species in the 

 north extends across the continent, northern collectors might easily deter- 

 mine the matter. This insect is often found in the green ears of maize ; 

 but only in such as have been injured by birds or animals, which scarcely 

 entitles it to be classed among the injurious. 



Gaufotes abdominalis Bland. This graceful Longicorn occurs from 

 Massachusetts to Western Virginia, but in restricted localities, which 

 accounts for its being met with by so few collectors. It usually affects 



