BB8.] PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 487 



<fcng in the spoils. Usually there were two parties. The species begin 

 to fly just at dusk, and a few could be taken before dark ou low trees. 

 As soon as darkness set in, the buzzing became audible everywhere and 

 Kindreds of insects could be feltratber than seen, while the trees began 

 rustling - as with life. It was interesting to note the start of the speci- 

 mens. First a slight whirr of wings in the grass, then a momentary 

 silence followed by another whirr, this again followed by an interval 

 before the specimen finally flew off with a hum. Beating began at dark 

 when a branch outlined by the faint light of the sky could be seen to 

 be surrounded by the multitude of specimens. Work was steadily con- 

 tinued, the same trees being visited at short intervals until 9.30 to 10 

 p. m., when the beetles were generally settled for the night and ceased 

 flying. By this time, too, our bottles were generally sufficiently full, and 

 we were ready to quit. We fouud that youug trees were the favorites 

 throughout, and that the crowus and upper branches of large trees 

 suffered most. 



In order to try the effect of different surroundings, we made occa- 

 sional excursions to the Virginia side of the Potomac, just above Wash- 

 ington, and here we took other species in smaller numbers and with in- 

 finitely more trouble. 



My house is situated on Lanier Heights, about half a mile outside of 

 the city, to the north, and on the crest of a hill overlooking Rock Creek 

 Valley. The ground is bare, and there are no trees except along the 

 road and ou my grounds. Ou the terrace back of my house a few young 

 pear trees proved a source of great attraction, and only persistent col- 

 lection saved them from complete destruction. In front of my house I 

 have about 50 feet of privet hedge, aud into this, on some evenings, I 

 could put my hands at random, sure to get a few specimens. They ate 

 little of this, however, and did no appreciable damage. A Wistaria vine 

 on one side of my front porch was still more attractive, and tbis they 

 damaged badly. They did not touch my roses, though others reported 

 great damage to them. At the foot of the hill upon which the house 

 stands, and at the entrance of a deep, narrow valley leading to Rock 

 Creek, there are a few large oaks, and here only L. affinis was found 

 feeding. 



Finally we made three trips to Rock Creek Valley, with poor suc- 

 cess; for though there were plenty of the most attractive and convenient 

 trees for the imagos, there is no true sod, and but a sparse covering of 

 vegetation on the clay soil aud gravel — no place for larva. The results 

 of our collecting seem to prove that grass is absolutely accessary tv> 

 produce numerous specimens. The imagos of L. arcuata 1 found per- 

 fectly colored and matured in October, 18S7, and the date of their first 

 appearance in 1888 — April 30 — was coincident with the first really warm 

 day of spring. 



With this description of localities the references hereafter will be 

 snore easily understood. 



