CHAPTER XI 



The Coleoptera which have been collected by this expedition abound 

 in specimens, while the number of species is also very large, no less than 

 389 having- been secured, of which five are new to science. From the peculiar 

 character of that part of the country visited (from Owens Valley, California, 

 to Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona), this fact might have been 

 expected, and has already been observed by former collectors. In these 

 desert regions there are two families in particular which are very charac- 

 teristic, and whose numerous species represent almost exclusively the coleop- 

 terous fauna of these localities: they are the Tenebrionidce and Meloidce ; the 

 former live on the ground in great numbers and variations, while the latter 

 are found on most every species of Astragalus. Of these vesicants, two new 

 forms have been discovered, which, with some other new species, are 

 described below. 



DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW SPECIES. 



BEMBIDIUM NEVADENSE. 



Plate XLI, Fig. 3. 



Greenish-black, shining, subdepressed ; upper and under surface 

 brightly shining; thorax subquadrate, a little broader than long; sides 

 rounded, margined, narrower at the base ; hind angles rectangular, obliquely 

 carinated, and at the base wrinkled ; elytra finely striato-punctate, punctures 

 diminishing toward the apex ; interstitial lines depressed ; at the humerus 

 and before the apex dark rufous spots ; antennae deep piceous ; basal joints 

 rufous ; legs dark brown. Length, .20 inch — 5 millimeters. Nevada. 

 This species is allied to B. lucidum, bimacidatum, etc., but is more blackish, 

 and a little smaller. 



311 



