The Scottish Naturalist. 263 



the nests of Formica rufa and other ants, and possibly a care- 

 ful search may result in the discovery of this or some allied 

 species in Britain. 



In conclusion, a word or two on the method of examining an 

 ant-hill may not be out of place. Select, then, a hill that is 

 neither too small nor of recent origin, and begin operations by 

 examining the moss, grass, and stones round the base of the 

 nest. These may be shaken over a large sheet of strong paper 

 or " Waterproof." Having disposed of the outside of the nest 

 plunge the hand into the depths of the hill and take out several 

 handfuls of the substance of the nest, place in a wire sieve and 

 shake over the paper — then examine the siftings. If one hill 

 is unproductive, try another; and don't, if you can, be frightened 

 for the ants, nor be surprised if you should even find a few in 

 your bed after a day " among the hills." In examining a hill, it 

 is humane, not to say politic, not to disturb the nest, especially 

 the upper and outer parts, more than necessary. A piece of 

 wood, or a rough stone or two, placed on or beside the hill, and 

 examined early in the morning will often be found to have 

 beetles adhering to the underside. 



NOTES ON SCOTTISH HEMIPTERA. 



( Continued from p. 226. J 

 By F. BUCHANAN WHITE, M.D. 



ULOPA OBTECTA Fall. 



One of the characters of the genus Ulopa Fall, is that the 

 species have no wings. It was therefore with some surprise 

 that I captured a winged form of the common U. obtccta on a 

 hill in Braemar at about an altitude of 1900 or 2000 feet. 

 This winged form only differs from the common apterous form 

 in the possession of wings. It frequented, however, a rather 

 damper locality than the common form, which prefers dry 

 ground under heather, the dead leaves of which it very greatly 

 resembles. U. obtccta is a very sluggish animal and can leap 

 but feebly. It seems to be common throughout the country 

 in heathy places. 



