ON GEOTRUPES. 313 



GEOTRTTPES OF BOREAL AMERICA. 

 KY GEO. H. HORN, M. I). 



[Coinmunicated Deceinbt^r 9th, 1807.] 



My attention was directed to this well known genus by the elabo- 

 rate monograph of II. Jekel, published a short time since in the An- 

 nals of the Entomological Society of France (Series IV, Vol. V, pp. 

 51 o et scq), in which all the species known to liliu have been more 

 fully described, and characters for their subgenerie division more fully 

 detailed than in any preceding work. Many new distinctions have 

 been pointed out, which, though subject to some and even important 

 variation, are none the less useful in enabling the establishment of a 

 certain number of groups around which, with a large series, all the 

 aberrant forms may be readily arranged. 



As regards our own species, the characters given for their subgene- 

 rie division have long been known, though never published by any 

 American entomologists, still to Jekel must be given the credit of so 

 elaborating his observations as to make the study of this genus a mat- 

 ter of easy accomplishment. 



In no other genus has tradition so completely controlled specific 

 names as in this, and specimens have been scattered over our own and 

 foreign countries with names far from correct, while under a single 

 name, individuals of different species have been found associated with 

 no other points of resemblance save that of color. 



The names of Mr. Say have become purely traditional, as his typi- 

 cal collection has been totally destroyed and but few if any specimens 

 named by him remain. With this fact before us it appears proper, 

 with the able work of Jekel, to fix definitely the names of Say and 

 others, so that in future, trouble may be avoided. The determination 

 of our own species in this work has been a matter of special argument, 

 and, though all American cabinets will be thrown into confusion, it is 

 none the less proper that these determinations should be adopted.* 



* The species formerly known in our cabinets as Blackburnii, will be found 

 in the subsequent pages as semiopacus, while the former name is applied to that 

 known as e.vcrementi. As the change affects our most prominent species, it 

 would be well for those who may be interested in the matter, to refer to the 

 work of Jekel, where the reasons for the change will be found. 



TRANS. AMER. ENT. SOC. (40) JAN'UARV, 1868. 



