218 ENTOMOLOGICAIi FAUNA OF PERTHSHIRE. 



elucidate the geographical range of such species ; in any other respect the interest 

 attached to them has already been anticipated by continental writers more 

 than half a century ago — long before many of them had been kiio\Yn as 

 natives of this country. 



We have been led into these remarks by a somewhat interesting commu- 

 nication we had recently from our friend Dr. Nelson, of Lytham, who a 

 short time ago instituted an investigation into the entomology of Perthshire. 

 Prevented by his professional engagements from carrying it on in person, he 

 employed a young lad for that purpose, and accordingly sent him to the 

 vicinity of the Black Forest, near Eannoch, for several weeks during the months 

 of June and July last. His more interesting captures may thus afford some 

 idea of the insect productions of the north, as contrasted with those of conti- 

 nental and English localities; a subject which by the way we are glad to see 

 is exciting an interest with some Scottish entomologists, who appear to be now 

 impressed with some idea of the utility of making known the results of their 

 investigations; and while we feel much pleasure in having it in our power in 

 some small degree to aid them, we must still remind them that the chief 

 benefit to be derived from such researches, lies altogether, as we have said, in 

 the enlarged views of nature's works that they are calculated to produce — a 

 subject of far higher moment, as shewing the operation of the laws of Him 

 who upholdeth all things, and who doeth nothing in vain, of Him who 



"Givos its lustrn to an insect's wing', 

 And wheels his tlirouc upon the rolling worlds." 



In Goleoptcra, this district of Perthshire is peculiarly interesting as a 

 Scottish locality. Without dessending to a minute enumeration of those kinds 

 which, though perhaps not very frequently met with, are yet generally dis- 

 tributed throughout the country, we will merely select such as from their 

 local habits seem to us to be worthy of special notice. In the surrounding hilly 

 districts, in common with many such like localities in Scotland, there occur 

 various Alpine species, such as Garahus glabratus and Gym'mdis basalts; Garabus 

 nitens and arvensis are also met with. It is, however, an investigation into 

 the forest localities that possesses most attractions for the entomologist, and 

 it is to the inhabitants of these haunts that we chiefly propose to direct our 

 attention. 



Asemum striatum is not unfrequently met with flying during the sunshine, 

 and alighting on palings, cut timber, etc. This species, which appears to 

 be almost exclusively northern in its range, occurs in many other Scottish 

 localities, and is far from rare in the neighbourhood of Glasgow. It is seldom 

 seen however much further south in this country; but in Sweden and the 

 north of P^urope generally, it is a well-known insect, 



Saperda scalaris occurs in very sparing numbers in Perthshire. We are 

 not aware of any other Scottish locality for this species, which in its general 

 range is much more southern than the preceding. 



Besides the two common species of Rhagium, namely bifasciatum and 



