PREFACE XXXI 



Of the insects taken by myself, the greatest personality is 

 a Horse-Fly, determined for me by Mr. E. E. Austen as Tabanus 

 magellanicus^ which attacks horses — doubtless also the guanaco, 

 which is probably its original victim. 



In Aphaniptera, I obtained a rare Flea {StepJianocirciis 

 minervd) parasitic on Ctenomys. 



Coleoptera are represented in Cicindelidce^ Carabidce, Sta^jhy- 

 linidce, Siljjhidce, NitiduUdoe^ Coccinellidce^ Dascillidce, Lampyridce, 

 Telephoridce, Elateridce, Tenebrionidm^ LucanidcB, Geotrupidce^ 

 MelolontMdoe^Rutelidce^ Ceramhyddoe, Chrysomelidce^ Curculionidce. 

 Large groups represented only by a single species are Longi- 

 cornia and Phytopliaga. Important families apparently absent 

 are Copridoe and Aphodiidce. 



Some fifty species are accounted for in my collection. 



In naming these as far as possible, some being new, 

 Mr. G-ilbert Arrow tells me they consist in a nearly equal degree 

 of forms characteristic of the eastern plains and the western 

 slopes of temperate South America, the latter constituent a very 

 peculiar one showing distinct relationship with the Australian 

 fauna. 



About the greatest personality is Agrius fallaciosus, one 

 of the Tiger Beetles (^GicindelidcE) . The handsomest insect is 

 Ceroglossus sufuralis, one of the Ground Beetles {Carahidce). 

 Amhlyopmus fuegensis, in Staphylinidcs, is an extraordinary 

 departure from other Coleoptera, in that it is parasitic on 

 mammals. Of its host in this case I have no certain knowledge, 

 but beHeve it to have come from Ctenomys. Taurocerastes pata- 

 gonicus, the single representative in Geotrupidce, is rare. I took 

 but two examples, both males. MicroplopJiorus magellamcus, 

 the Longicorn, is most destructive to forest trees. Its larvae 

 are a chief food of the woodpecker. GhrysomeUdce are repre- 

 sented by Microtheca ochroloma. An insect likely to excite 

 interest when met with is the handsome glossy-black wonder- 

 fully granulated Nyctelia granulata, one of the Cellar Beetles 

 {Tenehrionidce) . Another of this family, common under all sorts 



