ARTICLE II. 
REVISION OF THE CICINDELA OF THE UNITED STATES. 
BY JOHN L. LE CONTE, M.D. 
(Read, February 1st, 1856.) 
The genus Cicindela, a favourite with all entomologists, contains a very large number of 
species which are mostly distinguished by brilliant colours, and conspicuous markings. 
Although easily recognised by direct comparison, the structure of these numerous species 
is varied upon such uniform types, that much difficulty is found in identifying an un- 
known one by description, and the descriptions given by authors are frequently either 
obscure from their brevity, or tedious from their length. This necessarily results from 
the want of success in dividing the genus into small groups defined by easily recognised 
characters ; and it is much to be regretted that some of the entomologists of Europe, with 
large collections at hand, have not made an effort to produce a monograph of this beauti- 
ful genus. 
The species found in the United States have been increased since the publication of Say’s 
monograph, in the first volume of this work, from 13 to 65; the descriptions of these 
have become so scattered as to be rather troublesome to the student, and as I have fortu- 
nately obtained specimens of all those previously described, excepting three made known 
by Say after the publication of the monograph mentioned, it appeared to me to be a work 
not altogether without profit to science, to attempt to bring together such notes upon 
these species as would enable subsequent investigations to be carried on with less labour 
than has been previously required. 
Before proceeding to the description of the species, I have attempted to group them 
in such manner as to divide the characters common to several, from those which are 
peculiar and diagnostic, and I have presented the result in a synoptic table. In making 
