COLEOPTKRA. 297 



CoLEOPTERA FROM DlTCHLING, SuSSEX, DURING AuGUST AND 



September, 1910. — During my stay at Ditchling, this summer, the 

 execrable weather that characterised August quite forbade the use of 

 the sweeping net except in a most desultory way. I was forced to 

 turn my attention principally to working around ponds, at hay-stacks, 

 and in cows -beds. From some neighbouring cow -sheds and the 

 adjacent farmyard I obtained several nice species. Qiiediua fiih/idiis,'-''- 

 F., was an interesting addition to my "local list," the species occurring 

 in considerable numbers. This (Jiieiiiiis was very partial to the sheds 

 themselves, only two or three being noticed among the refuse without 

 the sheds. IJeteynthopa pracria,''' Er.,and IJ. ilissiniiUs, Gr., were both 

 common, especially the latter. Mi/cetaea hirta, Marsh., occasional 

 specimens only. ApleuKs bninneiis,-'- Gyll., was very common in one 

 part of a cow-shed, but did not turn up elsewhere. Hi.ster iiierdaivKs,-'- 

 Hoff., I found both in sheds and among the dung heaps outside; some 

 fifteen specimens of this rare Hiater were " bagged." NyUits crenatna/^- 

 F., one only, among dry straw. By sifting the refuse heaps in the 

 yard, StenuK craasus, Steph., and S. melannpus, Marsh., were met with 

 in the utmost profusion, crasmiH in particular being extraordinarily 

 abundant. Cerojon vi(friceps, Marsh., and C tcniiinatns, Marsh., were 

 secured in the same manner, as were Leptacinns pariDiipimctatus/'- Gyll., 

 and L. bati/chnis, Gyll., both of which species were scarce however. 

 Stilicii.'i siibtilis, Er., put in an occasional appearance here, as did 

 Cartodere nijicoUix, Marsh., Mister iinicolor, L., H. bhnaculatns, L., and 

 very many common species. On August 24th, I discovered one or two 

 starling's nests situated in some old birch trees near Ditchling village. 

 With the aid of a ladder these were duly transferred to my sweep net, 

 and were found to contain : Microf/losaa piilla, Gyll., P/iilonthus fiiscna,'-' 

 Gr. (some two dozen examples), I'rox scaler, L., in large numbers, and 

 various common species. By working round the inargins of three or 

 four small ponds I made some additions to my knowledge of the local 

 coleopterous fauna. Liiniicbins nitidns, Marsh., was found sparingly 

 by immersing the pond weed. Octhebius nifiniari/inatiis, Steph., two. 

 specimens of this very local beetle were fished out of a pond — the 

 usually common bicolon has not yet been noticed around Ditchling. 

 Cercyon liannorrhous, Gyll., was very common among moss and on. 

 mud round the ponds. One specimen, apparently mature, is of an 

 uniform reddish-testaceous colour. Onjnsa niaiira,'- Er., of this species. 

 a short series were shaken from the thick pond moss. Falaijria sitl- 

 catula, Gr., found in company with the Ocijusa, also scarce. Evaes-^ 

 thetiis ruficapillns,'' Lac, not uncommon ; Steniis incrassatns, Er., one 

 specimen only; S. pKnillus, Er., common ; S. pallipes, Gr., very scarce;. 

 S. hinntatiis, Ljun., found in numbers by pulling up the reed roots and 

 shaking them over a sheet. In this way Cojielatiis ai/ilis, F., and 

 Ai/abiis palutlosus, F., were freely secured. L'npelatus was in great, 

 numbers, there often being over a dozen shaken from one root. 6'.. 

 picipennis,-'' Er., not rare in thick moss ; N. fornicatiis,'' Steph., one 

 example only; Parniis auriciilatns,''- Geoffr., common in thick wet 

 moss. I owe to Mr. Donisthorpe's keen eye the true identity of this, 

 species, as I had previously considered them the common speciea 

 P. liiridiis: Paruiis ernesti, Gozis., was found once or twice only, t'entho- 

 rfn/nc/iidiiis melajiariiis, Stsph., and Gywuetrim beccabunoi/e, L., were 

 both in numbers on their respective pabula. By shaking moss growing: 



