1 90 The Irish Nahwalist. 



from Dublin. In the May of last year, however, I took a 

 specimen from under a large stone in a pine wood on Killakee 

 mountain, which is a very likely locality, as the species is 

 mostly found in or near woods, and usually under large stones. 

 It is widely spread and not uncommon, but many specimens 

 are apparentl}^ never found in any one spot. When taken this 

 insect makes a creaking noise by rubbing its elytra against 

 its abdomen ; its scientific title is Cychrus rostratus, and it 

 feeds upon molluscs. We next come to the genus Carabiis, of 

 which six species are natives of Dublin ; no new insect has 

 been added to these of late, but three of the recorded ones of 

 some interest were taken last year by Mr. Gore Cuthbert. Of 

 these two are of considerable importance, being very local 

 insects — they are C. glabrahts and C. clathraUts, the former 

 having been found on the Dublin mountains, the latter during 

 the excursion of the Club to Callary. Dr. Scharff added 

 Elaphrus cupreus to our list, having taken it at Woodlands, 

 I^ucan, in 1888 ; since then it has been found in Wicklow by 

 Mr. Cuthbert. This is an interesting insect, for it and its 

 congeners show an apparent approach, as regards form and 

 rapidity of movement, to the Cicmdelidoe. This species is 

 widel}^ distributed, and inhabits moist and marshy places, and 

 the banks of lakes and ponds. Half sunken bogs in these 

 spots are likely places to search for the insect. 



We now pass on to a group of beetles known as the 

 Necrophaga, this name being given them from the habit they 

 have of feeding on dead carcases. A fine representative of the 

 burying-beetles is added to our list by Mr. Cuthbert. This is 

 Necjvdes littoralis, which along with other species has the habit 

 of laying its eggs in carrion. The Neavphori, a genus closely 

 allied, have the same habits, and sink pits into the earth in 

 which the carcase is placed, then the insects deposit their eggs 

 in it, cover it up, and depart. These beetles are very expert 

 workers, and in a few hours will sink a small animal's body, 

 such as a rat or bird, underground, in this manner rendering 

 its decay more slow and allowing time for the young larv^se to 

 fatten upon its substance. 



Going on we come to the Cockchafers, two species of which 

 inhabit Dublin, of which Mclolontha hippocastajii would appear 

 the more common insect. The nut-trees at Poul-a-Phouca 

 were attacked by this beetle in the summer of 1890, a fine 

 specimen tumbling into my net whilst sweeping during the 

 excursion of the Club to that place in that 3^ear. Another in- 

 teresting chafer found in the district is Serica brunnea, a stout- 

 bodied long-legged beetle covered with a silken down, found 

 in tree-stumps and heaps of wood-dust found in such places. 

 Five species of Geotnipes or ''tumble-bugs" are found in Dublin. 

 These are the fine stout black '' clocks" that fly about at dusk 

 and often come whizzing into peoples' faces in their unwieldy 

 flight. The rarest of these insects in Dublin is perhaps G, 



