62 THK entomologist's IliiCORD. 



Now perhaps the point that first strikes the reader of this list, who 

 has had any experience of molenesting, is its generous comprehen- 

 siveness — Our author is evidently aware that many of the Arthropods 

 found in molenests are there merely as accidental visitors, in no sense, 

 belonging to any specialized molenest fauna, in fact following 

 Bickhardt he divides the total nest inhabitants into three groups, viz. 



(a) Typical nest dwellers, peculiar to the nests where their meta- 

 morphoses take place, and such as are rarely met with out- 

 side the nests. 



(/>) Species usually found in the nests and developed there but 

 often otherwise developed. 



(c) Occasional or accidental guests. 



Yet in the catalogue itself are included very many species, e.r^., as 

 a Lepidopteron, a larva of A.pronuha, and among the Coleoptera such 

 species as Pterofiticlms niiivUa, P. mi)ior, Attarjenua pellio, and Apion 

 fnimentariitiii — which have nothing to do with moles or their nests, 

 and whose inclusion in this list add nothing to our knowledge of the 

 relations existing between moles and insects. 



Proceeding to a more detailed consideration of these lists, we note 

 that Father Heselhaiis found but one small Hymenopteron in his nests, 

 and that he had not so far succeeded in naming. He very properly, 

 but somewhat mconsistentlj^ omits the Ants — Lasiim flaviis, L. 

 fnlif/inomis, and Mi/niiica laeinnodi^, which he tells us he found 

 inhabiting certain nests, not reckoning them as true " Maulwurfs- 

 gasten," but in that case we feel the more surprise that he should 

 have included a large number of the beetles. Thus he records a total 

 of 86 species of Coleoptera as found in molenests, but not more than 

 about 20 of these can be said really to belong to his groups («) and (6). 

 Some species, t'.(j., liatrisii^ occiilntiis, and Nen raphes rithicuiuhis, he is 

 careful to note, owe their presence in the nests, more perhaps to 

 association with ants, than with moles. 



Nearly all the Coleoptera which have been taken in British mole- 

 nests appear in Father Heselhaus' list, exceptions being Atheta 

 paradoxa and jSJedon castaneiiti. For the determination of all the 

 beetles Dr. Everts appears to have been responsible. 



A single representative of the Lepidoptera we have already 

 mentioned, a larva supposed to be that of A<irotis pronnba, and as it 

 was found in the earth surrounding, and not in the nest itself, its- 

 record is more evidence of Father Heselhaus' exhaustive method of 

 work, than of any bionomic significance. The Diptera are more 

 interesting. One species, new to science, Peyeriwhoffia siibterranea, is 

 described at considerable length by Father H. Schmitz, who is, in fact, 

 responsible for the whole of this section, and the description is accom- 

 panied by a plate and a table of other members of the genus 

 Pe!/erii)ihojfia.'''' Pupa? of Ercdptouiera inicrops, Meigen, were discovered, 

 but the total number of Diptera found in these molenests seems to have 

 been but small. The fleas were determined by Dr. Oudemans, and 

 five, possibly six, species are enumerated. 



Of Rhipichota our author cannot report much. " Beobachtet babe 

 ich 2 Homopteren, wohl Cicadelliden " is all he can say. 



* One species of this genus P. brachyptera, Kief., has lately been taken for 

 the first time in Britain, and third time anywhere, in Lundy Isle by Mr. Donisthorpe 

 in a nest of the ant Tjasiiis aliemti< (see Ent. Record, xxv., 268). 



