48 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. . 



the bars, so that it can hardly be detected where alighted, the darker parts 

 being easily taken for bits of drift-wood or pebbles. 



These notes being intended only as a mention of this interesting sub- 

 ject, I will not bring up any further species, for they will nearly all be found 

 equally well adapted in this way to their surroundings. Species are to be 

 found all over the world, many of which would furnish more interesting 

 cases than the above. I might mention that I have lately received from 

 New Zealand two fine species, tuber cidata, Fabr., znd_parryi, White. In 

 the former the markings have united, while in the latter they have become 

 somewhat indistinct, the elytra having a very thin and delicate appear- 

 ance, as indeed has the whole insect, leaving the markings not well de- 

 fined. These species would be hard to detect alike in sandy places or on 

 darker soils, though tuberculaia, Fabr., is better adapted to the former, 

 a.nd parryi, White., to the latter. 



Many of the species differ from others in the number of the elytral 

 markings ; but it is the base color that concerns us here, for it is this that 

 makes the insects hard to discern from their natural surroundings, while 

 the lighter markings help the effect. Thus those of the bright green 

 woods have the base color of the same dazzHng, brilliant green, while 

 others have it of the duller color of the soils they frequent, or are con- 

 siderable modified, as macra, Lee, and the nearly related cuprascrus, Lee, 

 puritana, Horn, wapleri, Lee, and especially the two Mexican species 

 figured by Schaupp, in his synopsis, * so as to have the markings unite, 

 and, so far as the effect goes, take the place of the original background 

 and themselves become the real base color, conforming more to the color 

 of the white sand of the bars upon which they are found. It is noticeable 

 that in all this variation the elytral markings, when they occur, keep the 

 one creamy white color, however the base color may change. If the 

 markings are united, becoming the base in effect, the other parts retain 

 their dull color as before. In short, there is generally an irregular light 

 edging to the insect, often broken, which gives it an irregular outline, so 

 that it will not readily assume form. Had we never observed these 

 species in their natural habitat, this alone would prove to us that they 

 were terrestrial in their habits. 



They do not take for ornament conspicuous colors upon conspicuous 



* Schaupp, Synopsis of North America Cicindelida, PI. III., figs. 85 and 86. 

 (From Bull. Bkl. Ent. Soc, vol. VI.) 



