

THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 65 



here approaching it closely, and from this are all degrees of variation to 

 the slightest noticeable depression. No character can be derived from 

 the spurs of the middle tibiae of the males, for when a large number of 

 divaricata are examined, this will be seen to vary from a mere tubercle to 

 a formidable spur with long teeth on the distal edge. Colour, as a char- 

 acter, is not worthy of consideration. I have a specimen of prolo?igata 

 from Canada with the upper side polished black with a purple reflection 

 and the under coppery black. A point given me by Mr. Ulke (a char- 

 acter given by Dr. LeConte) is more permanent than any of . those 

 mentioned above, viz., tips of the elytrons with the angles rounded — pro- 

 longata ; tips of the elytrons with the sutural angles terminating in a 

 small spine — divaricata. This is the most constant character noticed, 

 but by itself fails in individual cases under observation. I do i.ot ques- 

 tion the distinctness of the species. Prolongata breeds, so far as known, 

 in conifers, and inhabits high altitudes and latitudes, while divaricata is 

 more southern, being abundant in parts of Canada and all the States east 

 of the Mississippi, breeding in diseased or dead deciduous trees, as beech, 

 maple, apple, cherry, etc. 



Dicerca obscura Fab. For a set of typical specimens of the real 

 obscura as defined by Dr. LeConte, I am indebted to Mr. Ulke, who takes 

 it quite commonly at Washington, D. C, on persimmon ( Diospyros Vir- 

 giniana). There is a tendency among collectors to confuse this with Dr. 

 Leconte's lurida Fab., as defined in his Monograph, and to give the latter 

 either name according to fancy. My observations, however, are that there 

 are sufficient differences to keep them apart, at least as races, and to the 

 collector this is the same as if they are separate species. In an examin- 

 ation of about one hundred and twenty specimens of lurida taken here or 

 received from other places, I find that the thorax is in every case wider 

 near the middle than at base, and that behind the middle the sides con- 

 verge more or less to the base in a line varying from nearly straight to 

 deeply sinuous. In lurida the reverse occurs, the widest part of the 

 thorax is the base, and the convergence, though not great, is directed 

 anteriorly, and from the middle to apex is more pronounced The direc- 

 tions of Dr. LeConte in his Monograph, if strictly followed, are quite 

 sufficient to effect a separation. Lurida breeds in dead and diseased 

 hickory, and is very abundant, but I have never seen a specimen of obscura 

 taken here. 



Dicerca spreta Gory appears to be rare and I have it not, though 



