Dr. Horn's Notes on the habits of Calif ornian Coleoptera. 291 



insect occurs rather abundantly during the summer, on the low willows 

 that are so plentiful in Owens Valley. I did not find the insect while 

 in this section. 



AUCHMOBIUS INFAUSTUS Lee. 



This rare insect, of which the type has for years been lost, has oc- 

 curred in my collection from Tejon,and may possibly be found in those 

 from Owens Valley. It occurs in early spring under stones and fallen 

 logs, with Eurymetopon and Coniontis. The Tenebrionidse of Califor- 

 nia can be the better collected during the early spring; and to such as 

 have the opportunity, I would strongly urge attention to that part of 

 the year immediately succeeding the rainy season, while the ground is 

 still moist. At this period, all the insects appear to be more abund- 

 ant. Many of the Tenebrionidas live during several seasons, and these, 

 together with the new brood, appear as before indicated. Though no 

 specimens of Craniotus and Auclunobius were in Dr. LeConte's Cabi- 

 net at the time of the preparation of his classification of the Tenebrio- 

 nidoe of North America, the positions assigned these genera are un- 

 doubtedly correct, and they may be readily recognized by the charac- 



ters given. 



CRANIOTUS PUBESCENS Lee. 



Dead specimens of this rare insect were found at Vallecito. Living 

 specimens occurred on the Maricopa desert, under dead stems of Cere- 

 us giganteus, in the months of March and November. 



DACODERUS STRIATICEPS Lee. 



This insect and Arseoschizus costipennis Leo. may be found in small 

 colonies, under stones in very dry places during March and April. 

 The specimens of Docoderits, found by Dr. LeConte at Fort Yuma, 

 occurred under Cottonwood bark. This was evidently an accidental 

 occurrance, as I found a pair under my medicine chest while camped 

 at the same place. Vacoderus and Artxoscliizus have, evidently, the 

 habits of the Stenosiini of South America, of which Lacordaire says, 

 "they live in small colonies under stones, and are, in their movements, 

 moderately agile." This latter is not the case with our species. 

 Though I have seen probably a dozen of each, I have never been able 

 to make them walk ; they feign death. A new species of Areeosthizusf 

 occurred very abundantly in Owens Valley, California, under stones, 

 generally with ants; this moves very slowly, and carries its antennae 

 directly in front and parallel to each other. 



