88 order coleoptera. 



Elateb ( Pybophorus) koctilucus. 

 This species is noticed merely to state the fact that some of the spines are phosphore- 

 scent : they constitute the fire beetles of the West Indies, and feed upon the sugar cane. 

 They resemble the oculatus in form and size, but the eyelike spots give out a strong light ; 

 ao also it is emitted from the segments of the body. 



Elater (Melanotus) communis (Schonherr). 

 Color light brown, hairy, subacute beliind : thorax furrowed in the middle : elytra, at 

 their bases, are marked with about five sulci. Length half an inch. 

 It is common during the spring and summer months. 



Elater ( Melanotus) glandicolor. ( Plate v, fig. 9.) 



Color brown : head small ; head, thorax, elytra and abdomen covered with white or ash 



gray hairs. Elytra narrowed behind j anterior margin or base marked with 3 short sulci. 



Elater ( Melanotus) cinereus. 

 Color brown ; haii-y. Thorax punctured, and marked by about ten obsolete cross lines : 

 they give the appearance of a reticulated structure. Length about half an inch, and 

 is found in April, May and June. 



Elater (Ludius) appressifrons (Say). 

 Color chestnut-brown, but hoary from being clothed with short yellow close-pressed hairs ; 

 cylindrical, slender. Angles of the thorax prolonged : elytra finely punolfcred, and 

 also marked by slender lines. Length about half an inch. 

 According to Dr. Harris, the females are more robust and larger than the males, and 

 the brevicomis of Say is identical with this species. The elytra are marked by about ten 

 distinct lines each : the legs are lighter colored than the elytra, and clothed with hairs ; 

 and the prolonged outer angles of the thorax are excurved. 



Elater (Agriotes) obesus (Say). 

 Color reddish brown : body somewhat dilated and short : scutel rounded and hairy. The 

 elytra are punctured, and clothed in much the same manner as the foregoing. Length 

 less than half an inch. The lines of the elytra are only about seven in number, and 

 the hairs upon the upper side are arranged in lines or stripes. 

 It is found in the spring among the roots of grass, and it is observed by Mr. Harris that 

 its grub resembles the wireworm of Europe. 



Elater . ( Plate v, fig. 7.) 



This species was found dead : it is much larger than the appressifrmis, and of a light 

 brown color. I believe now that though it may not be a common species, still, as it is 

 laded, it will probably be a matter of doubt to what species it really belongs, and there- 

 fore I omit further allusion to it. 



