58 The Ottawa Naturalist. [June 



the removaT of dead and fallen timber, and to its replacement by 

 a fresh growth. Comparatively few of the species, probabl)', 

 attack perfectly vigorous plants, but the injured, dead and fallen 

 individuals are soon thoroughly infested. The eggs laid in 

 crevices of the bark, or in incisions made specially therein, soon 

 produce the grubs which, burrowing first in the juicy outer layer 

 beneath the bark, gradually, as they increase in size, penetrate 

 deeper into the wood, and before they reach maturity many of 

 the species bore long tunnels deep into the trunks even of large 

 trees. These tunnels receive and retain moisture and in 

 them fungi find a foothold, and they thus become centres of 

 disintegration and decay. 



In the classification of the Coleoptera of North America, by 

 Leconte and Horn, three subfamilies are recognized and are 

 separated as follows : 



Frothorax margined, labrum connate. Prion iN.i^. 



Prothorax not margined, labrum free. 



Front tibire not grooved. Cframbycin.^. 



Front tibios grooved. Lamiin.?: 



Of the Prionin.e we have only two representatives, viz. 

 Orthosonia brunneum Forst. and Tragosovia Harrisii Lee. The 

 former is slightly the largest, attaining a length of 1.5 inches. It 

 is a smooth, brownish beetle with stout antennas, and the short 

 thorax is armed on each side with three teeth. T. Harrisii, 

 while hardly so long, is broader and more robust, darker in 

 colour and with densely hairy thorax and striated elytra. These 

 beetles both infest pine, although the grubs of the former at least 

 are occasionally found in other trees. 



The second sub-family, Cerambycin.e, contains the 

 majority of our species, although many of its tribes are not 

 represented in our fauna. 



Tribe I, Asemini, is represented by three genera, Asemum, 



Criocephalus and Tetropium, each represented by one species. 



These are rather softish beetles of dull black or brownish 



colour, infesting pines, and probably other conifers. Tetropium 



can be readily recognized by the divided eyes. 



Tribe II, Callidiini, has seven genera represented; the eleven 



