The Scottish Naturalist. 347 



trusted to nature's own method of progression on these expedi- 

 tions, except where the sea had to be crossed, and passed many 

 nights at various hotels on the way, we may say without much 

 hesitation, that we collected pretty thoroughly over the whole 

 country. Of course July is not a month in good repute with 

 coleopterists, and it is impossible to say what we may not have 

 missed, by being unable to commence work a month earlier ; but, 

 whatever the cause, we were greatly impressed with the scarcity 

 of insects, both species and specimens. As this was more re- 

 markable than could be accounted for, by the lateness of our 

 visit, we had to seek other causes, and arrived at the 

 theory that abundance of insects onght not to be expected 

 in islands of limited extent, in latitude 6o° to 65 , treeless, 

 for the most part covered with deep peat, and with no elevation 

 above 1600 feet. However we will leave theorizing. 



The Geodephaga were perhaps the most plentiful. On the 

 hills the small dark form of Notiophilus aquaticus was not 

 uncommon, together with great numbers of Nebria Gylle?ihalli, 

 Calathus melanocephalus, and Patrobus assimilis, rare specimens 

 ot Cymindis vaporariorum, and occasional Bradycellus harpa- 

 linus. In damp places on the lower ground Nebria brevicollis 

 and Gylkfihalli occured commonly in company, not unfrequently 

 forming a trio with the aid of Pelophila (which we once found in 

 considerable numbers). On the sea shore (and also during a 

 hurried visit to Orkney) Trechus lapidosus occurred very rarely, 

 and in flood refuse T. rubens was common. In various localities, 

 chiefly under stones, we met with Dyschiriuspolitus, Pterostichus 

 nigrita (same var. as mentioned in E. M. M. vol. x, p. 252) and 

 vitreus, A?nara bifrons and lunicollis\ and Bembidium Mawier- 

 heimi and Bruxelle?ise. 



Of the Hydradephaga we obtained several species which we 

 have not yet satisfactorily determined; one or two may be new, 

 and several others are more or less uncommon, as Haliplus fulvus, 

 Hydroporus griseostriatus (abundant in one small loch) and 

 ee/atus, Ilybius fuliginosus and Agabus solieri and nebulosus. 

 Many species common in Scotland, were, however, " conspicu- 

 ous by their absence." The Philhydrida furnished absolutely 

 nothing worthy of special remark. 



In Scotland the Brachelytra generally supply the deficiencies 

 of other groups, but not so in Shetland. Our captures in this 

 group were meagre indeed. With the exception of one Philonthus 

 which appears likely to prove new, we met with nothing that 



