236 [November, 



The conditions of search were entirely altered in Palestine ; instead of the 

 dark passage, or sandj ridge, or rank cultivation of the Nile valley, one has the close 

 herbage, gay with innumerable flowei's, which alternates with bare rock, over all the 

 shadeless hills and dry valleys, now so characteristic features of that land. But to 

 careful examination the entomological yield would be very varied, if one could 

 range from the alpine and sub-alpine heights of Lebanon to the tropical depths 

 of the Jordan valley, as it ends in the Dead Sea. I only collected for a few hours, 

 near Jerusalem, and again near the Well of Elisha at Jericho. My captures, there- 

 fore, were, for the most part, of the species frequenting the blossoms which give a 

 brief glory to the bare liiU-sides of Judsea. Those most frequently met with were two 

 species of Mylabris, M. damascena, Reiche, and M. decempunctata, Fab. : in the 

 Jordan valley, these simply swarmed on every flower, and were common in places of 

 greater altitude ; accompanying them were M. sanguinolenta, 01., and one or two 

 others of the same genus. Their bright scarlet-banded elytra fade much after death. 

 A very common beetle was the little black, white-spotted, Oxythyrea cinctella, Stev., 

 while 0. hirtella, L., and O. squalida, L., were not rare. Amphicoma papaveris, 

 Sturm, gleamed in its bright purple sheen, with the more sober A. psilotrichius. 

 Fhyllopertha Uneolata, Fischer, I found abundant. In the Jordan valley, I 

 took two beautiful little green and gold species of Trichodes, one of them being 

 T. quadripustulahis. I met also with the British Chrysomela menthastri, Suffr. 

 Among the graceful willows, which thickly fringe the sides of the Jordan, a large 

 gay-looking beetle was to be seen, sitting apparently in sleepy idleness, on the leaves; 

 but it was for all that asleep " with one eye open," and the least attempt to circum- 

 vent it sent it like an arrow, glancing in the hot sunshine with metallic radiance; 

 to resume a watchful position nearer the top of the tree. Time and appUances 

 being wanting, I only got one ; it proved to be the Buprestid Sterapsis squamosa, 

 Klug. I also took specimens of Nehria Hemprichi, Klug, Aphodius unicolor, Lucas, 

 Cetonia libani, G-. and P., Omophlus syriacus, Lydus algiricus, L., Lixus Buqiieti, 

 Dej., Phytoecia Wachanrul, Muls. (;= syriaca, Chcv.), and some others. 



I must add in conclusion, that I am much endebted to Mr. "Waterhouse, Dr. 

 Sharp, and Mr. F. Smith, for their kind help in naming my little collection. — W. D. 

 EoBiNSON-DouGLAB, Orcliardton, Castle Douglas : September, 1877. 



Colias Edtisa, var. Helice, near Darlington. — I captured a very fine example 

 of this variety at Richmond, Yorkshire, on September 27th, apparently not long 

 emerged. It was flying leisurely on a rough bank, about 9 a.m., settling often on 

 the ground, so that I caught it without difficulty. What makes it rather more re- 

 markable is the fact, that I have only seen JSditsa alive once before in my life (this 

 season also, in June) ; so that, with me, Helice bears the very unusual proportion of 

 one in two.- — J. S.VNO, Darlington : October 8th, 1877. 



Further captures of Sphinx pinastri near Ipswich. — Since the Eev. Mr. Long, 

 of Tuddenham, showed me the specimen of Sphinx pinastri which was the subject 

 of a short communication in your August number, I have had two other specimens 

 brought to me. Both of them were captured at Waldingfield, near Ipswich ; one in 



