68 



far sixty-seven. The number of named species in my list is 92G,* 

 but more than 200 species are yet undetermined, so that the total num- 

 ber of species which have been taken is about 1,150. 



Every possible precaution has been taken to guard againsi errors 

 such as have unfortunately greatly lessened the value of some recent 

 Canadian lists. A large proportion of my elateridfe, buprestidfe, 

 cerambycidfe and chrysomelidte were named for me by the late Dr. 

 LeConte, and I am indebted to Mr. John B. Smitht for abundant help 

 in the determination of species in other families. Without the assist- 

 ance so generously given by these gentlemen it would indeed have 

 been impossible for me yet to prepare my list. 



Tne principal value of a local list, other than as a mere catalogue 

 of a collection, is due to the information it affords as to the geographical 

 distribution of species. The consideration of this question must, how- 

 ever, be postponed until it has received the careful attention it so 

 richly deserves. Meanwhile I have made a rough general compai-isou 

 of our fauna with such lists as I have in my possession, with a view to 

 finding which groups are most fully, or most meagrely represented, and 

 of gaining an idea as to the total number of species likely to occur 

 here. 



Six lists have been used in this comparison. First, a list puli- 

 lished by Mr. Pettit (Can. Ent., vols. II and II[), of 1,143 species 

 taken at Grimsby, Ont. Second, a list by INIessrs. Reinecke and Zesch 

 of about 1,400 species captured in the vicinity of Buffalo. Third, a list 

 published by Mr. Couper (Can. Sport, and Nat.) of 1,012 species recorded 

 from the Province of Quebec. Fourth, a list by Messrs. Ilubbard and 

 Schwarz of 1,246 species recorded from the Lake Superior region. 

 Fifth, a list by the same authors of 1,787 from the lower peninsula of 

 Michigan. Sixth, one by Mr. Schwarz of 1,457 species captured in 

 Florida. The three last were published in Vol. XVII of the Proceedings 

 of the American Philosophical Society, and were very kindly sent tb 

 me by Dr. LeConte only a few weeks before his lamented death. 



A.11 these lists contain more species than that which I have pre- 

 pared, but the reason in each case is not difficult to determine. Com- 



* Increased by further determinations to 1,003. 

 t Now a corresponding member of the Club. 



