64 



has on the male an outer projection which exceeds it in 

 length, as in the figure. That piece is an apophysis, not con- 

 nected to the mandible by a joint. The male prob- 

 ably uses it to hold and secure the female. I 

 have not seen them in the act of uniting, but have 

 Fig. 8. often found them already in sexual connection ; 



they seem to remain some time in that state. The male is 

 not above the female, but they are coimected end to end, the 

 heads in opposite directions. Found in great numbers in 

 March under the bark of decaying pine logs. It is doubtful 

 whether this is the B. dubius Fabr., the apex of the elytra be- 

 ing rufous, and these are not black, but piceous or obscure." 



By the by, can you explain the confusion which exists about 

 this family? Dumcril places his Cucuje ou Bronte testace in 

 his family of Omaloides, then he gives the Cucuje jjcittes j amies 

 in bis genres anomaux Tetrameres ! so that we find the same 

 genus not only in different families, but in different divisions. 

 Latreille mentions no anomaly of that kind so far as I know ; 

 and yet I am induced to think that some pentamerous species 

 must have been in Dumdril's hands which led him to make that 

 mistake, because I have an insect which is pentamerous and 

 which I cannot place near any genus except Cucujus. It is also 

 related to Trogosita. I have it numbered 762. The head is 

 not triangular, and the eyes are not remarkably prominent, but 

 it resembles very much the insect you named for me Cucujus 

 flavipes Oliv. 



I have made no observations which could add anything to 

 yours on the subject of pectinated nails, except that most of 

 the insects that I know, with tliat ])eculiarit3', are nocturnal or 

 crcpuscularian in their habits. Tlie beautiful and very large 

 Lchla grandis which I have described, is never seen but at 

 nigiit, and its nails are remarkably pectinated. 



I have not set traps yet, but will avail myself of your sug- 

 gestions. This reminds me that in France, in almost every 

 garden^ a number of flower-pots without a hole at the bottom 



