I900.] Johnson. — Notes o?i the Irish Coleoptera. 73 



'• In fact, I believe the Irish Cossonui, for so it is called, had not been 

 detected in any locality, except that where it was originally discovered, 

 until it fell under the observation of Mr. Templeton. It is still taken at 

 Cranmore,^ in precisely the same situation where it was first observed, 

 and usually in little groups of four or five individuals, ranged together 

 side by side. It is not, however, strictly confined to one spot, but has 

 also been taken in the adjoining garden, and is particularly abundant 

 under the decaying bark of alders." — ("Insects mentioned in 

 Shakspeare," by Robert Patterson, F.R.S., Treasurer of the Natural 

 History Society of Belfast : London, 1838.") 



I should like to call the attention of Irish coleopterists to the 

 remarks of Mr. G. C. Champion, F.Z.S., with regard to 

 Diglossa, Haliday, or Diglotta, as Mr. Champion proposes to 

 call it {fi7it. Mo. Mag., 2nd series, vol. x, p. 264). He points 

 out that the difference in length of elytra, which used to be 

 relied on to separate the species, is not a constant character, gives 

 the points of difference and the changes in nomenclature, and 

 shows that the two species are now D>mersa^ Halid. {submarina, 

 Fairm.), and D. siyiuaticollis, Muls. and Rey. [s'^assa, Muls. and 

 Rey.). Both have been taken in Ireland, D. mersa at Portraine 

 and Baldoyle, while of D. siymaticollis, Canon Fowler {Ent. 

 Mo. Mag., XX., p. 168) writes that M. Javet had specimens sent 

 him from Ireland by Haliday, and Mr. Champion (/.^.) states 

 that " there is a small form in Mr. Mason's collection, probably 

 found by Haliday in Ireland." It seems likely that these 

 specimens were found, like those of D. mersa, in Co. Dublin, 

 but it is not impossible that they may have been taken on the 

 coast of Co. Down ; consequently it is an open question, and 

 remains for solution by the Dublin and Belfast field 

 naturalists, so let them polish up their optic nerves, and sally 

 forth on sunny days and see who will win. 



Poyntzpass. 



1 Cranmore is now part of Belfast. 



