126 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



Stones. It is essentially a rock-frequenting species. It occurs in large 

 numbers in some conglomerate boulders on the northern shore of the 

 Queen Charlotte Islands. These boulders lie about half-way between the 

 tide-marks, and the large pebbles embedded in them have become 

 loosened by the action of the water, but still remain in their matrices. It 

 is between these pebbles and the matrices that the beetles live, their 

 compressed forms admirably adapting them for moving in so confined a 

 space. 



On the mainland of British Columbia, opposite the Queen Charlotte 

 Islands, the beetle again occurs in considerable numbers. There the shore 

 rocks are of a slaty formation, and the action of the tide tends to 

 separate portions of them into large flakes, beneath which the beetles find 

 congenial shelter. On removing one of these flakes with a chisel a whole 

 colony of ^. deb His is disclosed. I feel sure that the insect might be 

 discovered in many places along our Pacific coast, if carefully sought for. 

 For a long time this beetle was the only representative, not only of its 

 genus, but of its family. Professor Comstock states, however, in his 

 Insect Manual, that another species has recently been taken in California. 



The beetle is active all the year round. This morning (Feb. 14th), 

 wanting to examine a few living specimens, I had no difliculty in procuring 

 all I needed, though the ground is frozen hard and covered with snow. 

 I have seen it copulating in February, and have taken both larvae and 

 pupae in July. It is extremely deliberate in its movements. Its sharp 

 claws enable it to adhere so firmly to the surface of the rock that it is 

 sometimes difficult to dislodge it without injury. Unlike other marine 

 species with which I have experimented, it shows no objection to entering 

 the water, but does so readily from the top of a half-submerged stone. It 

 seems helpless when floating on the water, but can sink at will when once 

 beneath the surface. I placed some specimens on a stone in a dry 

 dish, and gradually added sea-water till the stone was submerged, imitat- 

 ing the approach of the tide. The beetles remained stationary, and 

 allowed the water to cover them, when a large bubble of air could be seen 

 under their partly raised elytra. 



I am in want of a few popularly interesting beetles {e. g., glow-worm, 

 fire-fly, Egyptian sacred beetle, Pyrophorus, Noctilucus, etc.) for use in 

 lectures to young people. I would gladly send a series of y£. debilis to 

 any entomologist who might care to make the exchange. 



J. H. Keen, Metlakatla, B. C. 



