March, 1913-] ShERMAN : HaBITS OF THE DytISCID^. 53 



On the other hand, in very dry seasons, when even the larger 

 brooks and small rivers are almost dry, with only pools remaining 

 in many portions of their beds, a great many of the ordinary pond 

 species resort to these places, and at such times nearly all the native 

 species are found in them. 



IV. Springs. 



Characteristic species of the small springs in the north are Agabiis 

 parallelus Lee, obtusatus Say^ erythropteriis Say, and other species 

 of the genus Agahus, while in Hydroporus we have stagnalis G. & H., 

 persimilis Crotch, oblitus Aube and their allies. 



Agabus semivittatus Lee. usually lives in springs or along brooks 

 where cress grows. Shelford first advised me of always finding this 

 species under such conditions at South Haven, Mich., and I have since 

 observed it occurring with the same plant in the Cumberland Valley, 

 Pa., and at Rochester, Minn. Mr. Loding has a record of this or a 

 closely allied species under sphagnum moss in a dried-up pond at top 

 of Blount Mountain, Ala., i,ooo feet elevation. 



On the Pacific coast Agabinus glabrclhis Motsch. lives, according 

 to Fall, in very cold mountain springs. 



The genus Sicttitia was erected for a beetle of the Hydroporus 

 type found in France at the bottom of a deep well and Hydroporus 

 stagnalis G. & H. occurs here in very deep spring holes which have 

 been built up into the form of a well. 



The small so-called " lakes " of the White Mountains, above the 

 tree-line, have been to me an exceedingly interesting collecting ground 

 and are I think entitled to some separate mention. These " lakes " are 

 virtually large springs among the rocks usually lined with Sphagmtm, 

 or sometimes with grass. They seem never to fail to shelter an 

 abundance of beetles, of which six or seven species do not occur below 

 the tree-line. These strictly boreal species (Hydroporus morio Sharp ; 

 the beetle described by Sharp as Hydroporus signatus Mann., but in 

 reality another species for which I suggest the name appalachius; 

 Deronectes griseostriatus DeG. ; Agabus congener Payk., and tristis 

 Payk.) are often represented by hundreds of specimens. 



Besides these boreal species, some thirty-five or more others are 

 represented by occasional examples, of which no doubt many are 

 simply visitors from the lower slopes and valleys just as the other 



