THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



the punctuation of the elytra is dissimilar in the sexes, being in the fern 

 fine and deep at the sides and somewhat dense at the base, while those 

 the latter are alike in both sexes. Recently I examined several specimens 

 of cinereus from Prussia and compared them with American forms, with 

 the result of confirming Dr. Horn's opinion. Four males have each from * 

 thirty to thirty-three small pallettes on the anterior tarsus, and four have 

 twenty-eight — all with fourteen on the middle ; one has twenty-five on the 

 anterior and twelve on the middle, with two rudimentary ; one has twenty- 

 three on the anterior and twelve on the middle, with doubtful traces of two 

 others. As the pallettes decrease in number they increase in size and 

 distinctness, but do not equal those in my single American male. The 

 sculpture of the elytra in the sexes (seven females seen) might be termed 

 uniform, though the punctuation is more pronounced in two or three 

 females ; the anterior black band of the thorax does not " always attain 

 the front margin," but exhibits the same variableness as exists among 

 American individuals. With the above I have compared one male and 

 three females of fasciatocollis from Massachusetts and one female taken 

 here ; the male has twenty-three small pallettes on the anterior and twelve 

 on the middle tarsus, all larger than in the European forms. Whether 

 this number is constant, or variable as in the foreigners, would be desir- 

 able to know, that is, in a number taken together, for Dr. Horn has 

 demonstrated the variableness when from distant localities. The three 

 Massachusetts' females have the elytra sculptured like the male and could 

 not be distinguished in this respect from their European sisters ; but the 

 female taken here is much coarser sculptured and punctured than ever 

 Dr. Sharp's description requires. Both the points insisted on by the 

 learned Doctor for separate species are shown by the above to be un- 

 tenable. 



Philhydrus fimbriatus Mels., one of the most common of the Hydro- 

 philidae, inhabits in great abundance all wet places, especially where there 

 is mud — swamps, ponds, springy places, springs on hill and mountain 

 sides, etc. It is variable in sculpture, size and color. The intention here 

 is to bring to notice a dwarf race that inhabits the little rivulets that flow 

 down hill and mountain sides from springs. While the normal form is 

 piceous black with pale thoracic and elytral margins, and about .20 inch 

 in length, this might be termed gray with paler margins, and in length is 

 not over . 1 5 inch. In summer these spring runs are often dry for long 

 periods, and the beetles then crawl under stones and rubbish where there 



