No. 1. 

 REPORT UPON INSECTS COLLECTED ON THE SURVEY. 



BY JOHN T. LECONTE, M.D. 



INTRODUCTOKYREMAEKS. 



As early as the year 1829, many Coleoptera of the western coast of North America were made 

 known by Eschscholtz, in his Zoological Atlas. This work was intended to contain descriptions 

 of the copious scientific treasures collected by him during the voyages of Captain Kotzebue, of 

 the Imperial Russian navy, during the years 1823-'26, and the results of the expedition, as 

 well as the promptness with which they were made known, afford a lasting monument of the 

 liberal policy pursued by the Russian government in the encouragement of intellectual pursuits, 

 which, though not immediately connected with physical prosperity, are yet an unfailing 

 standard of mental elevation. 



The death of Eschscholtz unfortunately prevented the completion of the work ; and from want 

 of opportunity, his collections remained undescribed for several years. In the meantime, in 

 1843, Mannerheim published a Coleopterous fauna of California and Russian America, which 

 contained descriptions of three hundred species. This was followed, at intervals, by three 

 supplements, devoted to the Coleoptera of Russian America , and by the last of these, published 

 in 1853, the total number of species known from that part of the continent was brought uj) to 

 540 species ; and by his labors, that portion of the fauna has indeed been more completely 

 developed than that of any other part of this continent. Papers by Motschulsky, also published, 

 like those of Mannerheim, in the Bulletin of the Imperial Society of Naturalists of Moscow, 

 contain valuable additions to the entomology of Pacific North America. 



Our knowledge of the Coleoptera of Oregon and Washington Territories is still less complete, 

 and with the exception of a few species collected by Dr. J. K. Townsend, and described by 

 Harris, Erichson, Germar, and Reiche, consists of new material obtained almost entirely through 

 the influence of the enterprising and zealous naturalists, Drs. Cooper and Suckley, of the present 

 expedition. To George Gibbs, esq., of Steilacoom, I am deeply indebted for a beautiful collec- 

 tion, which, through the kindness of Dr. Suckley, arrived in time to be incorporated in the report. 

 To Colonel George A. McCall, late Inspector General U. S. A., I owe my warmest acknowledge- 

 ments for a valuable series collected by him while performing his official duties in Oregon. 



Many years ago I examined the collection of Coleoptera made by Dr. Pickering and Mr. 

 Titian Peale, during the expedition of the Peacock and Vincennes, under Captain Charles 

 Wilkes, U. S. N. Among them were a considerable proportion of species found in Oregon and 

 California, which at that time were new. The report has not been published ; but on looking 

 over the notes made at the time by me, I find that there are in the collection very few species 

 that have not since been obtained from other sources, and which are, therefore, comprised in the 

 catalogue here given. 



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