116 



CHISELHURST EXCURSION. 



A little earlier in the season I noticed, on Wimbledon Common, 

 a small species in the perfect condition feeding on the blossoms of 

 the furze, which were punctured with minute holes just large 

 enough to introduce a pin. The brilliantly-coloured species of Cur- 

 culionida3 are always best mounted in balsam, but the more homely- 

 coloured ones (those found on the nettles all through the summer, 

 which claim notice rather from their curious shapes than their 

 scaly coating) are perhaps best mounted dry. 



In collecting these beetles one soon observes their habit, as 

 soon as they are alarmed, of loosening their hold of the stem or 

 leaf upon which they were walking, and dropping to earth. A 

 knowledge of this fact enables the collector to circumvent them in 

 their artifice to escape from danger, by placing his trap, consisting 

 of, it may be, an umbrella, or, as happened on this occasion an 

 obliging friend, underneath the branch, which was then shaken ; of 

 course the beetles and various other insects fell on to his shoulders 

 and back, whence ingenious Queketters, never at their wits' ends, 

 transferred them to their bottles and boxes. 



Numerous small flies were obtained, respecting which I am un- 

 able to offer any observations. I may, perhaps, however, be per- 

 mitted to mention a plan of preparation of such tiny insects, which 

 has lately found favour with me. It is to kill the insects in benzine, 

 and let them soak there until the spirit has thoroughly permeated 

 them. Then mount them in cold fluid balsam, and wait patiently 

 for it to set. The drawbacks of the process are that oftentimes 

 the less are not in desirable position, and there is much opacity ; 

 but the advantages, which to my mind counterbalances these, are 

 that the specimens are not damaged to the extent that often is the 

 case by the use of liquor potassac ; and under reflected light the 

 natural colours are not hidden or changed. 



Of the Thysanura, numerous specimens of the genus Smynthurus 

 were obtained ; some of them were of purple colour on the dorsal 

 surface, and others yellow. These latter were probably Smynthurus 

 Aureus. They are very curious little creatures ; so curious, in- 

 deed, that were they better known they would be much sought 

 after. As well as the surface of stagnant pools, they inhabit grass, 

 and nettle banks, and considerable numbers of them fall to the 

 bottom of the net which is used to sweep these localities. From 

 thence they must be swept into collecting tubes with a light jerk of 

 a camel's hair pencil if we desire to capture them. 



