160 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COLLECTING INSECTS. 



Banks of Ilivers and Sandy Sea-shores. — These situations are pro- 

 ductive of a great variety of Coleoptera, and other insects. 



The dead animals that are thrown upon the shores should be care- 

 fully examined, as they are the food of Silphidte, HisteridfB, Staphy- 

 linidre, &c. May and June are the best times for collecting in these 

 localities. 



Dead animals and dry bones should be constantly examined, as 

 these are the natural habitations of many insects. 



Fungi, boleti, and flowers, should be carefully, when met with, 

 examined, as many exceedingly rare insects inhabit them." 



[The preceding general remarks have been taken from Samouelle's 

 Entomologists' Guide.] 



INSTRUCTIONS FOR COLLECTING COLEOPTERA. 



BY JOHN L. LE CONTE, M. D. 



General Remarks. 



The insects of this order are mandibulate, or furnished with jaws, 

 and may be distinguished by the upper wings being converted into 

 hard corneous shields, which protect wholly or part of the upper sur- 

 face of the abdomen. They are very numerous, more than 8,000 

 species having already been collected in the United States, while 

 several thousand species probably remain to be discovered, especially 

 in our Territories west of the Mississippi. 



On account of the ease with which the specimens are obtained and 

 preserved, this is the favorite order of insects with collectors, and 

 although not equalling in beauty the Lepidoptera, the gem-like lustre 

 of many is not without merit, and above all the very distinct generic 

 and specific differences leading to more accurate classification have 

 induced many scientific men of high ability to devote tlieir time assidu- 

 ously to this order, and with the happiest results in philosophic 

 generalizations. 



The species are to be found in almost every variety of situation, 

 among which may be here specified, under stones, especially where 

 the soil is not very dry ; under bark of dead trees in ants' nests ; in 

 fungi, on leaves of plants, especially on the low trees and shrubbery 

 on the edges of forests and streams ; in dead carcases of animals ; in 

 excrement. Many are seen flying and alighting again in roads 

 during the hotter part of the day ; some live in water, and can only 

 be procured by small nets, while a great number of minute species 

 may be taken on the wing just before sunset. Many are found only 

 on the shores of the ocean, under material cast up by the waves ; a 

 large number will be attracted by a light near an open window at 

 night. For the purpose of more easily securing these, the table on 

 which the light is placed should be covered with a white cloth. Fi- 



