158 [July. 



excellent opportimity of investigating the resultant fauna on their 

 own ground. Canon Fowler has ali'eady recorded in this Magazine 

 the occurrence of isolated specimens of Anchomenus quadripunctahis 

 De G. last year, and that species has been far from uncommon in the 

 course of the past two months. Interest in this beetle has, however, 

 been eclipsed by the occurrence of PterosticJms amjustatus Dufts., a 

 well known, though uncommon. Continental species of the sub-genus 

 Bothriopterus, which has also been turning up, though very rarely, in 

 the course of April and May. 



Whether the burnt ground is essential to its existence seems 

 doubtful. I do not find that Continental writers associate it with 

 such a habitat, but it must be far more than an accident that in this 

 country at any rate it has been first noticed on burnt ground. Its 

 sudden and unaccountable appearance is altogether on a par with that of 

 Anchomenus qtiadripunctafus, Melanopliila acuminata, and others, and 

 it will doubtless disappear and re-appear elsewhere, where and when 

 conditions are suitable, with similar inter mittence. It is very possible, 

 as Mr. Champion suggests, that the Carabids at any rate are attracted 

 to the burnt ground by the numbers of Thysamira which congregate 

 among the charred fragments. 



Pterostichus angustatus is most closely allied to P. ohloncjo- 

 punctatus, but is on the average a smaller beetle, ranging in length 

 from 7^ to 10| millimetres, and differs from that species in the 

 following particulars : it is entirely shining black, except the tips of 

 the four palpi, the spines and bristles of the legs, and the tarsal 

 claws, which are all clear red ; the form is shorter in proportion to 

 breadth ; the thorax has broader margins ; the elytra have three fovei- 

 form impressions on or near the third interstice instead of five, the 

 impressions being much deeper and more obvious ; the episterna of 

 the metasternum are markedly narrower and punctured, whereas in 

 P. oblong o-punctatus they are broad and smooth. The last seven 

 joints of the antennae ai-e inclined to be pitchy. The elytral impres- 

 sions are not always quite symmetrically placed, and in one example 

 that I have there are four on one elytron and three on the. other. The 

 tarsal joints of the male are much less dilated than in P. ohlongo- 

 punctatus. On comparison with Continental specimens from Galicia 

 {Reitter), and from Salmiinster in Hesse Nassau {R. G. Champion), 

 kindly placed at my disposal by Mr. Champion, I can detect no 

 difference in size or any other point. 



P. angustatus is a species of North and Central Europe, and is on 



