150 AMERICAN COLEOPTERA. 



H. F. Wickham (Bull. Lab. Nat. Hist. Univ. Iowa, Vol. V, No. 8, 

 1902). The Colorado list includes about 2165 species and subspe- 

 cies ; the New Mexico one about 2148. That these lists are far from 

 complete is evident from the fact that much smaller and less varied 

 areas have yielded many more species when thoroughly examined ; 

 thus New Jersey has 2845, the District of Columbia 2975 ; while 

 the British Islands, according to Sharp's list of 1883, had 3243 spe- 

 cies, and a considerable number have since been added. Mr. W. 

 Knaus in 1902 made a short trip to the Sacramento Mountains in 

 New Mexico, and added 18 genera and 57 species to the New IMexico 

 list ; in 1903 he visited the same region, also stopping at Santa Rosa, 

 and added 8 genera and 25 species and varieties. Last year Miss 

 Grace Eaton obtained about 30 of the more conspicuous species in 

 Ponil Canon, and four were new to the list. It is evident that every 

 fresh collection, for a good many years to come, will contain addi- 

 tions ; while the critical study of material already in collections will 

 further swell the list. 



On the other hand, it may safely be said that we have enough 

 material to determine the general character of the fauna, and to 

 make intelligent comparisons with other faunae. No doubt we pos- 

 sess the greater number of the species belonging to well known 

 genera, which are especially serviceable for comparisons, because 

 they have been elaborated in all local catalogues ; whereas additions 

 among the obscure groups, such as certain of the Staphylinidje, are 

 at present nearly useless for comparative faunal studies. The New 

 Mexico list is also fortunate in being mainly based on recent mate- 

 rial, examined in the light of modern knowledge, and available for 

 further study whenever the occasion demands it. 



Comparing the beetles of New Mexico with those of Colorado, 

 one is struck by the large amount of difference in the lists. Colo- 

 rado has not, of course, the important and characteristic Middle 

 Sonoran element, but the higher elevations are continuous from north 

 to south, and one would expect a practically identical fauna. Botani- 

 cal investigations, however, have revealed striking differences in the 

 plants of the northern and southern Rocky Mountains, and a degree 

 of endemicity among those inhabiting the mountain ranges which is 

 quite surprising. The oaks (Quercus) are abundant in New Mexico, 

 and have a luxuriant development as far north as Manitou, Colo- 

 rado, and even beyond. But at Boulder, and north of Denver, gen- 



