NORTH OF MEXICO. 



255 



result of a Summer's trip to Now Mexico; and of the members of the American Entomo- 

 logical Society, of Philadelphia, as well as the Society itself, for the kind access granted 

 to their collections. 



I have received valuable assistance from many kind friends, who have made collections 

 in alcohol in various parts of our country, and kindly placed them at my disposal. To 

 such 1 return sincere thanks. 



1st. To Mr. Win. M. Gabb, of the California, Geological Survey, who made abundant 

 and valuable collections in all parts of California., Oregon, Nevada,, and Lower California, 

 from ('ape San Lucas to San Diego. 



2d. To Dr. Cronkhitc for valuable collections in Owens' Valley, California. 



oil. To Capt. Jno. E. Hill, of California, for several interesting lots from Fort Yuma. 



4th. To Dr. J. O. Cooper, for collections in the Sacramento Valley. 



My own collections in the West were made principally in California, and extend 

 throughout the whole length of the State, principally in the Sacramento and Owens' Val- 

 leys, Tejon, Yuma, Fort Crook, Surprise Valley, and in the Territories of Arizona and 

 New Mexico, and at all places along the road and at any camps that may have been 

 made on the journey. 



This paper having been written with the view of aiding the American student of his 

 own fauna, it has been the author's endeavor to be as explicit, as so intricate a subject can 

 be made. Wherever it was possible, synoptic tables of species have been added, many of 

 them prepared with considerable outlay of time and trouble. If this paper can in the 

 least aid those whose collections are in disorder, in properly systcmatising their species 

 and appreciating the difference between the genera and species, and above all, if it will 

 succeed in preventing them, should they ever aspire to authorship, from creating genera 

 and species unnecessarily, I will feel that I am amply repaid. And to those whose posi- 

 tion will enable them to study the paper critically, it may be said that, if any errors either 

 original or copied, be the means of stimulating any one to eliminate them, I think all will 

 have abundant reason for rejoicing, and to these readers I respectfully request the; perusal 

 of Duval's Tenebrionides, p. 242, and Lacordairc, Genera, V., pp. 12 and 289. 



In the following pages each species known in our fauna will be at least briefly noticed, 

 and not merely references given, although the species may be well known. Some species 

 of Say and Beauvois remain unrecognised, while all arc probably known to us under other 

 names. It is to be regretted that Mr. Walker, (Naturalist in Brit. Col. App.), has seen 

 fit to publish a large number of our Oregon species, among them some Tenebrionida > , as 

 new. The descriptions are for the most part totally valueless, and, were it not for the in- 

 timate acquaintance all* American students have with the fauna of that region, the species 

 would have remained unrecognised until others, better appreciating specific characters 



