114 AMERICAN ENTOMOLOGY. 



but the present species is of a more simple and unassuming 

 character. Without any imposing attractions to arrest the eye, 

 it exhibits an agreeable neatness in the disposition of the con- 

 trasting colors, on the inferior surface of the wings. But its 

 chief title to our attention is the great altitude of its native cli- 

 mate. It inhabits the bald summits of the White Mountains of 

 New Hampshire, and appears to be limited to that inhospitable re- 

 gion. Mr. T. Nuttall sent me a specimen some time since, taken 

 by himself; and Mr. Charles Pickering of Salem, has recently 

 presented me with an individual in an excellent state of preser- 

 vation, from which the accompanying plate has been taken. 

 The plate exhibits two views of the insect. 



BOLETOPHAGrUS. Plate LI. 



Generic character. Body very rough, oval, convex ; head 

 rather large, without a neck ; eyes almost bisected by the promi- 

 nent margin ; antennae arcuated, inserted beneath the margin, 

 thicker towards the tip; mandibles destitute of a horny nail ; 

 palpi filiform, terminal joint of the maxillaries cylindrical : thorax 

 transverse, as broad as the elytra, the anterior angles projected 

 forwards : scutel small, rounded : elytra covering the tergum. 



Obs. In consequence of the rough unequal character of the 

 surface of these insects, their appearance is repulsive to the com- 

 mon observer, but in the estimation of an entomologist, their 

 claims to his attention are in no respect diminished by any sup- 

 posed departure from a particular standard of beauty. They 

 have been referred by the different authors to the genera Opa- 

 trum, Trox, Diaperis, and even Silpha and Hispa. But Latreille, 

 perceiving that their generic characters were not conformable to 

 any group already existing in the system, separated them under 

 the name of Eledona. This name ought to have been adopted, 

 having the unalienable right of priority over that of Boletopha- 

 gus, subsequently applied by the justly celebrated Illiger. But 

 as the present designation is preferred by Pabricius, Dejean, 

 Leach, and the German entomologists, we for the present 

 acquiesce in the use of it. The species frequent fungi, whence 

 the generic name Bwtdo boletus, and <f>*>~, I eat. 



Boletophagus CORNUTUS. — Specific character. Thorax with 

 two slightly incurved horns, which are hairy beneath. 



