26 



In the western and southern portions of our continent we have species which are 

 large as well as abundant, and which, there is every reason to believe, possess all the activ- 

 ity needed, most of them probably would be found in every respect as valuable as the 

 imported beetles. Some of the species about to be referred to have not yet been record- 

 ed as occurring within the limits of the Dominion of Canada, but when the insect fauna of 

 the rich plains of the west shall have been carefully collected, doubtless some of these or 

 others equally large and useful, will be found on our own side of the line ; in the meantime, 

 we give the localities where they are at jiresent known to occur. 



Through the kindness of Dr. George H. Horn, of Philadelphia, whose extensive con- 

 tributions to our knowledge of American Coleoptera have made his name familiar both in 

 Europe and America, we have been supplied with much information in reference to the 

 species here treated of; an acknowledgment is also due to Prof. C. V. Riley, State Ento- 

 mologist of Missouri, for some valuable notes on the habits of these insects. We have had 

 a lithographic plate prepared by Messrs. Sinclair & Sons, of Philadeli)hia, under the kind 

 supervision of Dr. Horn, in which each of the species referred to is figured of the natural 

 size, excepting 7 and 8, which are somewhat enlarged. This j>late is remarkably well ex- 

 ecuted, and is probably one of the best plates of Coleoptera ever published ; besides the 

 American species, it contains figures of M. cichorii and C. vesicaturia. 



We shall first enumerate the species, giving brief descriptions, as plain and void of 

 technicalities as possible. 



1. Meloe angusticollis — Say. — This insect (see fig. 1 on plate) is of a dark bluish viola- 

 ceous colour, with the head, thorax and wing-cases thickly punctured with minute dots or 

 impressions. The thorax is slender, narrower than the head ; feet slightly hairy, with 

 the spines of the legs reddish. Found in the Eastern States and in many parts of 

 Canada. 



2. Cysteodemus armalus — Lee. — Entire body bluish black ; thorax with a strong lateral 

 spino on each side ; wing-cases very convex, and nuich larger than the abdomen, which 

 they cover, and with very coarse elevated reticulations on their surface. This insect varies 

 greatly in size ; the figure represents a medium sized specimen. 



Extremely abundant in Arizona and the desert regions of California wherever the 

 greasewood, Larrca Mexicana, grows. This insect is not as good a vesicant as some 

 others ; the proportion of hard tissue in its structure is large as compared with the softer 

 and more active portion, too large, perhaps, to admit of its being of much value. 



3. Mi/labris cichorii— Lhm.—AU parts of this insect are black, excepting the wiiig- 

 covers, whicli are of an obscure yellow, with three transverse, black, irregular, undulating 

 bands, the one at the apex broadest. The first band is sometimes interrupted, and occa- 

 sionally reduced' to three or four spots. 



Found in abundance in the southern portions of China, and also throughout India, 

 on the tlowers of the wild chicory and other composite plants. It is also said to occur in 

 southern Eurojie, extending from Italy thi'ougli Greece and Egypt to China. 



4. Mucroham (dhida—'&Ay.—AW jiarts of body black, densely covered with minute 

 greenish or yellowish- white haus. The thorax is slightly longer than wide, the wing-covers 

 broader than the thorax, becoming wider behind, and are densely punctured. 



Abundant in Texas, New Mexico and on the plains. 



5. MacrohasisatTivillata—\jSC.—A\iioh\&cV; form more elongated than «ZWrfo ; head 

 thickly clothed with fine black hairs, with a small white space in front of the eyes ; thorax 

 with gravish hairs, witli a large black s]iace in the middle ; the wing-covers have black 

 bails, and their apex and sides are margined with gray ; there is also a moderately broad 

 gravish stripe extending from the humerus to near the apex. 



" Found in Texas, and is i)robably quite abundant, but we have not been able to obtain 

 definite information on this point. 



6. 7(/acr&i(w/s.S((/mf«<ato— Say.— This insect is black also, with the segments of tiie body 

 beneath margined with whitish. The thorax is nearly as broad as long, and its i)ostenor 

 edges are giayish. Wing-covers finely punctured and sparsely covered with short black 

 hairs. 



Occurs with M. alhida, and is also abundant. 



7. Epicauta t-!«((/a— Fab.— The head of this species is of a light reddish colour, with 

 darker spots ; antenna; black ; thorax black, with three yellow lines ; wing-covei-s black, 



