50 



— but I may be mistaken, and after all the insect may be 

 a Feronia or Badister. I have sent you the insect figured in my 

 last. Mr. Oakes found one on tree fungi on the sides of the 

 White Mountains, N. H., and Dr. Pickering, who has the speci- 

 men, supposed it might be a Boleto^iliagus. The eyes are reni- 

 form and undivided; in Boleto2ohagus and Diapei'is they are 

 globose and bisected by a projection of tlie anterior orbit : the 

 antenna? are much like those of Cossyphus^ the terminal joints 

 forming a club precisely similar to that figured by Dumeril, but 

 the basal joint is shorter and larger, and the intermediate 

 ones sliorter ; the nails also are simple. The name of Eledona 

 has the priority and should be adopted instead of Boletopha- 

 ffus, and therefore no confusion can arise if I call my insect 

 Boletohius montanus. You will also receive the Cistela de- 

 scribed in my letter which may be called 7nanicata, or, with 

 gauntlets, for these are appropriated to the male sex only. 

 Also a Bifprestis, described by Prof. Say as the macidiventris, 

 the extremity of the arm of which (anterior femur) is fur- 

 nished with a long acute spine directed backward, just as a 

 Spaniard conceals his stiletto. This insect is the type of a sub- 

 genus, which I call Xyphejjliorus, literally, assassin. Also sev- 

 eral Elaters new to me, but common in the high regions of 

 New Hampshire. The northern part of New England has 

 been less explored by entomologists than any other part of the 

 United States east of the Mississippi ; and hence in this high, 

 wooded, and uncultivated region, many new species will proba- 

 bly be detected ; and I am most happy in having so excellent 

 and friendly a correspondent in that quarter. 



Do you ever set traps for insects? The idea was suggested 

 by an observation of Mr. Leonard, who says that he obtains 

 many curious insects that get stuck in the juice Avhich oozes 

 from the sugar maple of New Plampshire. A mixture of mo- 

 lasses and gum water in a shallow plate might allure and retain 

 many small Coleoptera. Beating the trees is another good 

 method. In this w'ay I have caught on a wdiite clotli, or in an 



