62 NORTH AMERICAN' 



Stance, tliat because tlie majority of entomologists and collector?* 

 make use of tlie liand-leiis only, sncli an array of minute details in 

 tlie descriptions is, from tlieir inability to perceive them, not only 

 unnecessarv, bnt positively detrimental, from its tendency to confuse 

 tliem, or, in otiier words, that we should give only such cliaracters 

 as can be seen by imperfectly equipped or unskillful eyes. I need 

 scarcely say -that the fallacy of such reasoning is obvious, without 

 alluding to the dullness attributed by implication to the intellects of 

 our entomological students. We might as reasonably request an 

 astronomer not to make as refined observations of the planets as liis 

 telesco[)e is capable of, because the majority of astronomers, using 

 smaller instruments, cannot employ very precise measurements to 

 advantage, forgetting that it is only by such careful measurements 

 that the laws of internal action of tlie solar system can be confirmed; 

 or, with equal propriety, ask the physicist not to make his determina- 

 tion of the velocity of light laboriousl}' piecise, because such nicety 

 cannot be appreciated by the majority of physicists working in other 

 channels, little thinking that by this means the earth's distance from 

 the sun may be accurately determined, and the unit thus made known 

 for the survey of the entire visible universe. Scientillc facts are 

 valuable for their own sakes, if for nothing else, and it is only by an 

 accumulation of careful, minute, and conscientious observations that 

 the mode of working of Nature's laws can be revealed, the statement 

 applying with equal truth if not with ecjual force to astronomy, 

 physics, and natural history. 



PuiLADELi'iiiA, December 1, 1884. 



BEMItII>IO]V latr. 



B. Vernilla n. sp. — Dfpn'ssed, black witl\ greenish metallic kistre ; 

 head and jiioiiotum stroiijily ahitaeeons ; elytra less finely and strongly so, 

 more polished ; elytra having at the anterior third, from the fourth stria to 

 the sides, very small short dashes of interstriiil pale brownish-testaceous, 

 which near the sides, become longer, also laterally and apically through 

 nearly the posterior third, a broad irregular margin of still paler tint; epi- 

 pleiirae pale above throughout the length ; under surface nearly piceous- 

 black, posterior segments paler laterally; legs pale testaceous-brown; 

 antennae and palpi dark fuscous, basal and apical joints respectively paler. 

 Head rather large ; eyes very large and convex ; interocular surface rather 

 broadly swollen along the middle, extending to the epistoma which is very 

 broadly and feebly emarginate anteriorly throughout, and concentric with 



