W THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



• >_: 



work ; but the reticulations are more minute. Upper-Kp, palpi and antenna 

 ferruginous; a pair of oval, minute, obscure red spots mark the vertex : 

 prothorax, with the anterior transverse series of punctures double in the 

 middle, the posterior one not easily discernible, discontinuous in the middle : 

 there appear no rows of punctures on the elytra, but a few scattered ones 

 may be discovered: the four anterior legs are piceous. This species 

 approaches C. chakonatus, but it is longer, less glossy, the reticulations of 

 the surface are more distinct, no rows of punctures are discernible, as in 

 that, on the elytra, which, as well as the prothorax, are all of one colour ; 

 and the posterior legs are black. It seems still nearer C. alcr, but it is 

 much smaller, less convex, and has no fenestrated spot on the elytra. 

 [Taken in Canada.] 



1 06. ColVmbetes Assimilis, Kirby. — Length of body 5^4 lines. 

 Taken in Nova Scotia by Dr. MacCulloch. 



Body rather depressed, between oblong and obovate, smooth, rather 



glossy, black, covered above with an infinity of very minute reticulations. 



Head dirty-yellow; vertex black, with a pair of confluent transverse reddish 



spots : prothorax dirty-yellow, rather dusky in the disk, transverse punctures 



nearly obliterated: elytra of the same colour as the prothorax, but 



sprinkled with innumerable black dots, which, however, do not extend to 



» 



the base and sides; a row of more distant and larger dots adjoins the 

 suture: the fore-breast, the base and apex of the other ventral segments of 

 the abdomen, are dirty yellow; the legs are of the same colour, but the 

 arms are shorter than usual and piceous; the dilated posterior coxae are 

 sculptured with branching rugosities. This species represents C. notaius, 

 which it is very like, but the elytra are wider towards the apex which gives 

 the insect an obovate shape ; the black dots of the elytra are more 

 numerous and minute; the prothorax is without spots; and the arms, or 

 fore-legs, are shorter and of a different colour. [Included under Agabus 

 in Melsheimers Catalogue.] 



ENTOMOLOGY. No. 1. 



JJV WILLIAM COUPER, MONTREAL. 



The approach of the season for the study of the habits of insects urges 

 me to write a few hints for the guidance of young Canadian beginners. I 

 find that many young persons collect insects more for the sake of recrea- 

 tion and pastime than for the value of the material to aid future investiga 



