308 
any other Histerid genus in our fauna, while at the same time its resem- 
blance to a Hister is quite remarkable. I believe it to be an ancient 
form, not modified by its underground life, but preserved from extinc- 
tion by its isolation or the favorable conditions of its environment. 
In the foregoing study of the Coleoptera. which are closely connected 
with the economy of the gopher and have probably been long asso- 
ciated with it as scavengers, there will be found reasons for believing 
that this assemblage includes not only species differentiated from forms 
substantially the same as those now existing on the surface, but others, 
extinct outside the burrows, which have survived because of their envi- 
ronment and may not have been modified by it. 
That a gallery in the sand of such diminutive proportions as a 
gopher's burrow can harbor such a large number of hitherto undis- 
covered insects, and afford an environment potent to effect such changes 
in the structure and life of animals, might ay ell seem incredible, were it 
not for the very unique conditions which here exist. The moisture of 
the subsoil does not vary. The temperature of the burrows varies but 
five degrees throughout the year: the extreme in winter being 74° F.. 
and in summer 79° F. The tortoise is a reptile of ancient lineage, whose 
burrowing habits were probably established in ages zoologically remote. 
It is a long-lived animal, and its habitation once completed is maintained 
and occupied for a very long series of years. 
DESCKIPTIOZsS OF XEVT SPECIES. 
Philonthus gopheri n. sp. 
Form slender, parallel. Color reddish-testaceous, shining, pubescence golden, head 
with a dark hand behind the eyes. Head as wide as the thorax, longer than wide, 
widest across the eyes, with a few coarse punctures behind the eyes. Antenna? 
slender, as long as the head and thorax combined, all the joints longer than wide. 
Thorax slightly longer than wide, not narrowed in front, sides straight, slightly sin- 
uate, punctures of the dorsal series four in number, moderately coarse, the posterior 
more distant. Elytra conjointly rather longer than ^ ide. slightly longer and wider 
than the thorax, moderately densely, but not coarsely punctate, sparsely pubescent. 
Abdomen finely, rather densely punctured, punctures beneath rather coarser and 
sparser. Tarsi of hind legs long and slender, the claws very fine and long. 
Hale. — Front tarsi moderately dilated. Last ventral segment with a wide and deep 
triangular emargiuation. surrounded by a narrow gutter which does not extend for- 
ward at middle. 
Female. — Head as large as in the male. Front tarsi much less dilated. Last ven- 
tral segment simple. 
Length 5.6 mm . 
Described from eight specimens, Crescent City, Fla. 
Eelated to P. varians and P. longicornis, but distinguished by its 
slender form, pale color, larger head, by the form of the thorax, which 
is not narrowed in front, and the deeper emargiuation of the last ventral 
segment in the male. The antenna? are longer and more slender, the 
elytra less densely punctured and the tarsi much longer than in P. vari- 
ans. It does not have the muricate punctuation of the elytra seen in 
P. longkorn is ; the latter is also somewhat larger. The eyes are rounder 
