264 The Scottish Naturalist. 



PIEZODORUS PTJRPTJREIPENNIS De G. 



Of this handsome species Messrs. Douglas and Scott say, 

 " common on furze and broom bushes in the autumn." It oc- 

 curs, however, in spring and early summer also, and though most 

 partial to broom and furze, yet sometimes frequents trees, and 

 where Genista tinctoria abounds does, as might be expected, 

 not unaffect that plant. I have noticed larvae, both large and 

 small, abundant in September. P. purpureipennis is not an 

 uncommon species in the lowland part of Scotland. The most 

 northerly locality from which I have specimens is Forres, whence 

 they were sent me by Mr. Norman. 



MIRIS HOLSATTJS Fab. 



This species, which when " British Hemiptera " was pub- 

 lished, was considered " apparently a scarce species," abounds 

 throughout Scotland up to at least 1200 feet above sea-level. 

 It frequents grasses and other low plants especially in or near 

 woods. In early spring hibernated specimens are not unfre- 

 quent, in June larvae are common and imagos still not scarce; 

 in July, August, September, and October imagos abound. The 

 spring and early summer specimens are frequently green, but in 

 August, when the grass among which this species occurs is 

 becoming yellowish, the majority of specimens are ochreous. 

 If, as is probable, the spring individuals are hibernated autumn 

 ones, how is it that they change from green to ochreous ? By 

 the direct action of the food-plant ? Be the cause what it may, 

 we have here a good example of protective mimicry. 



MIRIS L^VIGATUS L. 



This is not such a common species as the last, in Scotland. 

 I have taken it in Perthshire and Kirkcudbrightshire. It, too, 

 like the last, appears to hibernate, and early summer speci- 

 mens are green, whilst autumnal ones are ochreous. It fre- 

 quents grasses and low plants, but seems to prefer more open 

 situations than M. holsatus. I have seen it in May, June, July, 

 September, and October. 



MIRIS CALCARATUS Fall. 



A tolerably common and widely distributed species in Scot- 

 land. Among grass on dry banks throughout the whole year, 



