486 NOTES ON LACHNOSTERNA. 



union of the sexes. I tried prying the claspers apart, but they broke 

 lather than yielded; pulling - resulted in tearing out the organs of one 

 or the other; and thru it struck me that possibly a little twist might 

 loosen them, and it did. I found it easy thereafter to disconnect the 

 corneous portions of the sexes by simply turning the specimens at 

 right angles to each other ; this unlocked them at once. The app ir- 

 eut immobility or very slight range of motion might possibly explain 

 the asymmetry by the suggestion that the claspers form a real lock, 

 which by a simple twist engages the corresponding female hasp or pro- 

 cess, and holds it fast against all direct strains, yielding at once, how- 

 ever, to the unlocking motion. Consistent with this is the fact that all 

 those species with dissimilar claspers have well-developed female or- 

 gans, while greater simplicity in the $ is accompanied by a reduction 

 and final loss of corneous parts in the 9 . Why this should be so I do 

 not venture to explain. 



Further comments and suggestions belong more properly under the 

 notes on the species. 



It is easy in fresh specimens to extrude the genitalia in both sexes. 

 Simple pressure of the abdomen will usually force them out at once to 

 full view. In alcoholic specimens a curved forceps inserted in the anal 

 opening will readily grasp the corneous processes and bring them to 

 view without difficulty. In dry specimens the abdomen can be readily 

 removed, the organs taken out, and the abdomen theu replaced with a 

 drop of shellac. It is more easy, however, to relax by throwing in 

 water for a couple of hours, when they can be treated as are alcoholic 

 specimens. Much more rapid and in many respects more satisfactory 

 is turning a small jet of steam on the specimen, which will render it fit 

 for examination in about two minutes. I relaxed most of the speci- 

 mens examined by turning the escape valve of the steam-heater in my 

 room at the Museum into a large jar containing the specimens to bo 

 softened. This, by the bye, is our method of softening dried Coleoptera 

 for mounting; unfortunately it is available only in the winter, when 

 the steam-heaters are in use. 



Before going on to the annotations I will give the results of the col- 

 lections made during the season of 1888 by the combined forces of the 

 Washington entomologists, not only to show the- quantity of material 

 at command, but also to give an idea of the richness of the fauna of 

 the District and to show what thorough collecting in any one locality 

 will bring to light. 



Several points were visited. Our principal collecting ground was the 

 park surrounding the Department of Agriculture. In one corner were 

 many young oaks and hickorys of various species, and here, with a grassy 

 lawn kept free from all undergrowth, was an ideal place. The outfit con- 

 sisted of an umbrella, a heavy stick, a lantern, and unlimited bottles. 

 One man handled the umbrella and cane; that is, he did the beating of 

 the trees, while the other managed the lantern and bottles, both gath- 



