22 entomological news. [January, 



RECOLLECTIONS OF OLD COLLECTING GROUNDS. 



II.— THE LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY. 



By H. F. Wickham, Iowa City, Iowa. 



The region about Brownsville. Texas, is one of great interest, 

 but only lately has it been explored entomologically with any 

 degree of care. Within the past two years, however, the country 

 has been visited and worked by Prof. Townsend, Mr. Schwarz 

 and the writer.* Its most striking feature is perhaps to be found 

 in the little jungles or " oases" of tropical vegetation, supporting 

 corresponding insect faunae, these small areas being compassed 

 around by the ordinary flora and fauna of southern Texas. 



It is by no means ready of access, since a visit implies either a 



long trip by steamer from New Orleans or Morgan City, or a 



cross-country stage ride of some 160 miles from Alice The 



latter has the advantage of convenience since the stages are run 



-^laily, while the steamer dates are about ten days apart. 



The writer made the trip by stage, reaching Brownsville on 

 the evening of June 20th. A heavy rain had laid the dust and 

 refreshed the country so that the broad prairies which alternate 

 with patches of chaparral were gorgeous with many blossoms. 

 But little time was had for collecting along the road, the thirty- 

 six hours of travel consumed in covering the distance being 

 broken only by such short stops as were necessary to change 

 horses and to eat a hasty lunch. Nevertheless, a few observa- 

 tions were made. Cicindela rectilatera abounded in swarms near 

 rain puddles; Canthon Icevis was busily rolling balls about in 

 sandy spots. In the mesquite scrub might now and then be seen 

 a fine specimen of a great black Longhorn, Stenaspis solitaria; 

 these, however, disappearing before reaching El Sawz. A short 

 stop at Santa Gertrudes, the first relay station out of Alice, was 

 the occasion of some rejoicing over the capture of a fine example 

 of Eleodes ventricosa, one of the largest species of the genus, 

 remarkable for its obese form and shining surface. 



No towns are passed through en route, the road running across 

 great ranches thousands of acres in extent. An occasional Mex- 

 ican hut is about the only sign of human habitation, except at 

 the small settlement of El Sawz and Arroyo. Arrived, finally, 



* Cf. Proc. Ent. Soc. Wash, iv, p. 2; Trans. Texas Acad, of Sci., 1895: and Bull. Nat. 

 Hist. State Univ. of Iowa, iv, pp. 96 et seq. 



