92 



dominalls, as 1 once did, is now labelled 1125, and I believe 

 when you examine it with the description you will refer it to 

 0. rufiventris Dejean. No. 11 is devoted to my C. hcemor- 

 rhoidalis, which you generously gave me, and even named 

 for me. When I first found 1125 here, I svipposed it to be a 

 variety of 11, and I have specimens which resemble it so well 

 that no difference can be observed, except that the bands are 

 slightly interrupted. It varies infinitely in markings, more so 

 than any species of that genus whatever. But in all its varia- 

 tions we can observe the closest affinity with the other. That 

 variableness is perhaps the best character which may distin- 

 guish it from 11. C. abdoiyiinalis is unknown to me. Elater 

 myo2)s is common here, varies much in size, and lives in pine 

 stumps. 



604. Orsodacna vittata ? Say. Immediately after, you 

 name your 679, 0. hejjatica Say. If that be a very much 

 smaller insect resembling it, I think you will convince your- 

 self that there is but one species coming from me. I have 

 known myriads to come out of a rotten post in January, and to 

 copulate indiscriminately large and small. As far as I know I 

 have but one species of Orsodacna. 



HENTZ TO HARRIS. 



University of N. C, Feb. 8, 1830. 



You have not yet told me whether the $ of your 3Iyecto- 

 fhagi have three or four joints in their inanus. Your 864 is 

 new to me, and will be the twelfth species of the same genus if 

 it has the above character in the $ . It is unaccountable to me 

 that Mr. Say did not notice it in his 31. pimctatus^ which I 

 have, and which, being the largest, displays that character al- 

 most to the naked eye. Your 864 may be his M. flcxuosus, 

 but I have three quite distinct species to which his description 



