36 AMERICAN COLEOPTERA. 



cess to the works in which they were published, some of which are 

 now quite rare. 



Before closing these introductory remarks I would remind those 

 who use this paper that too much reliance must not be placed upon 

 the synoptic tables for the identification of specimens, but that ref- 

 erence must also be made to the descriptions. 



Finally, before passing to the body of the work, I wish to express 

 my sincere thanks to the many friends and correspondents to whom 

 I am indebted for assistance in vai'ious ways. The kind and boun- 

 teous contributions of many of them have greatly increased the 

 amount of material which I have had for study, while the aid afforded 

 me in other ways by several has very much lightened my work and 

 has added to whatever value this paper may possess. 



To Dr. George H. Horn I am under great obligations for the loan 

 of his entire material, as well as for many additions to my cabinet, 

 and for much valuable assistance and advice. 



Mr. Samuel Henshaw has aided me greatly in the preparation of 

 the bibliography and synonymy, and my gratitude is also due him 

 for an opportunity to use almost ad libitum the LeConte collection, 

 now in the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Cambridge ; a privi- 

 lege which has been of very great value, as it would have been almost 

 impossible to have prepared this paper without studying LeConte's 

 types. His kind assistance in other ways has also been of service. 



I would also acknowledge my indebtedness to Mr. F. C. Bowditch, 

 of Brookline, Mass., who has placed his entire material at my dis- 

 posal for several years. 



To Mr. Henry Ulke, of Washington, I am grateful for the privi- 

 lege of studying the only known specimens of Bembidium morulum 

 Lee. which are in his collection. 



I am under obligations to Mr. S. H. Scudder for information on 

 the fossil species of the genus, and to Mr. G. C. Champion, of Lon- 

 don, for assistance in comparative work. 



My thanks are also due to Mr. H. F. Wickham, of Iowa City; 

 Mr. L. E. Ricksecker. of Occidental, Cal. ; Mr. H. C. Fall, of Po- 

 mona, Cal. ; Mr. Frederick Blanchard, of Lowell, Mass. ; Mr. W. 

 H. Harrington, of Ottawa, Canada; Mr. Chas. Liebeck, of Phila- 

 delphia ; Mr. H. E. Weed, of Starkville, Miss. ; Mr. Wm. Beuten- 

 m Ciller, of New York ; and Mr. W. R. Reinicke, of Philadelphia, 

 for the loan of much material, as well as for many additions to my 

 cabinet, or for assistance in other ways. 



