8V0 A. E. Verrill — The Bermuda Islands. 



he gives no description. Perhaps it was only a color-variety of the 

 preceding, which is variable in color. He says it buries itself in sand 

 instantaneously, a habit that I have noticed in the common Ber- 

 muda lizard, when rocks are not available for its escape. 



The chapter of 12 pages on Entomology (pp. 198-210) is mostly 

 occupied with extracts from foreign elementary or popular books, 

 describing the habits, structure, and classification of foreign insects. 

 The species of real Bermuda insects, specifically named by the 

 author, are but few, and to most of those he gave names that belong 

 to very different foreign species, so that it is, in most cases, very 

 uncertain to what particular insects he refers. 



However, in some cases, he gives a few words of description or 

 some original notes on habits that enable us to identify a few of his 

 species with more or less certainty. See table below. Perhaps one 

 or two of these are not included in my synopsis (e. g., Anobiam, sp.). 



According to his statements, insects were much more numerous, 

 especially in mid-summer, than later collectors have recorded. But 

 it must be remembered that, so far as known, no competent ento- 

 mologist has ever made collections in Bermuda in mid-summer. Nearly 

 all have collected only in winter or spring. The small summer col- 

 lections have been made by inexperienced persons. The following 

 extracts contain all that seems of any value on this subject : 



"Among the riches of the Bermudian entomology, I have noticed 

 among the species of butterflies, the Pieris brassicm, the great gar- 

 den butterfly, etc. The Argynnis Paphia, the Helieonia, and the 

 Nymphalis, arc common enough at all times, and in almost all situa- 

 tions. Others are abundant at a particular season or locality ; but 

 in general, butterflies are to be obtained only occasionally." . . . 



" In the summer season, and more particularly on rainy nights, 

 that section of nocturnal Eepidoptera, Nbctualites, the Pyralis, the 

 Phalonites, also that of the Tineites, etc., fly in at the open windows 

 in great numbers, and speckle the ceiling or flutter around the 

 glass shades with which the candles are protected from the draughts. 

 A great number of small beetles and other insects also flv in on such 

 occasions ; and several interesting species may then be met with. 

 But in general beetles and the other orders are extremely scarce, and 

 especially Diptera. During the month of August the shrubs and 

 trees that border the roads are alive with insects of all orders, but 

 particularly Coleoptera. Many species of Longicomes, Cassidariaz 

 (or tortoise beetles), Chrysomelius, Coccinella (or lady-birds), etc., 

 occur by hundreds on the twigs and leaves ; and the air is alive with 

 butterflies, Hymenoptera, and Diptera.''' 1 



