224 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



Scotland most of the water-collecting is carried on either on 

 peat mosses or about lochs, so that localities for " pond " 

 species are not frequent. Thus Hych'oporiis lineatus, for 

 instance, is a rarity compared to what it is in East Nor- 

 folk, but it probably occurred in every "pond" habitat I 

 examined. 



One of the best collecting areas in the district, to which 

 Lennon introduced me many years ago, is the Maxwelltown 

 Loch. The loch itself is now greatly reduced, and was 

 never large ; but there is some excellent marshy ground, 

 and one or two mossy shallow ditches. In this small area 

 I found 38 species, and several of Lennon's records also 

 refer to this place. 



Kirkcudbright, with about 1 10 species, has at present by 

 far the fullest Scottish list of Water-beetles, Dumfries coming 

 next with about 65 species ; but the possibilities of the 

 Scottish counties have, as yet, scarcely been tried. During 

 four days last September I took 62 species in Forfarshire. 

 The Edinburgh List, so far as I know it, contains 61 species, 

 but such names as Agabus Sturmii and chalconotus^ Colymbetes 

 fuscus^ Dytiscus^ Philydms, Laccobiiis^ Liinnebius ti'uncatellus^ 

 Helophorus aquaticus and brevipalpis, and Hydrczna are at pre- 

 sent absent from it. Fifeshire, where I had two days' collect- 

 ing last autumn, totals 5 8 species ; and these are, I believe, 

 the best Scottish Lists, so that there is promise of better 

 things for those who choose to investigate. 



I must take this opportunity of thanking a large number 

 of Entomologists who, by sending me their lists of species 

 collected in various parts of Great Britain and Ireland, have 

 greatly assisted me in my work on the distribution of the 

 British and Irish Water-beetles. It is due to their kindness 

 that I have been able to discuss with some fulness the dis- 

 tribution of some of the more interesting species mentioned 

 in this paper. 



I must also thank Mr. Eagle Clarke, the Keeper of 

 the Natural History Department of the Royal Scottish 

 Museum, Edinburgh, for allowing me to use Lennon's MS. 

 List which, with the collection, is now under his charge, and 

 for sending me the whole of the Lennon Water-beetles to 

 examine ; and I must thank Mr. Percy Grimshaw for sending 



