REV. G. T. RUDD'S OBSERVATIONS. 181 



high-water mark, and burrowed into the sand? would they 

 again take wing? or, would they perish, as the flood covered 

 their hiding-place? I waited to see the event. The tide 

 rolled on — covered the sands, with all their inhabitants — and 

 again receded. I disturbed my friends from their retreat ; — 

 they were as lively as if they had been sporting in the sun- 

 shine, instead of having been under water for more than half 

 an hour ! 



One point was clear, (confirmed by repeated observations 

 subsequently,) that these Brachelytrous insects have the power 

 of enduring submersion, and under salt water, for at least 

 half an hour. 



But why did they leave their burrows at a lower part of 

 the sands ? I had previously often collected on this spot, at 

 different periods of the year, during the neap tides, and on the 

 most brilliant days, without having seen a single Hespero- 

 philus on the wing. It is fair, therefore, to suppose, either 

 that the extraordinary flight I witnessed was a mere casual 

 occurrence, or that, in some way or other, it is to be accounted 

 for by the state of the tide. On this latter supposition, these 

 insects must have been warned by some peculiar instinct to 

 move higher up the sands, and thereby to avoid submersion 

 for a period that probably would have exceeded their power 

 of endurance. I have to regret that no opportunity of visiting 

 the estuary at the commencement of spring tides has been 

 since afforded me, and I hope that some of your readers 

 will direct their attention to the subject, when they visit any of 

 the larger estuaries, where, no doubt, they will find the insect 

 in profusion. It betrays its lurking-place by the sand it 

 elevates in its burrowing, which dries, and thus leaves a con- 

 spicuous mark. 



Whilst investigating the habits of Hespercphilus, I was 

 accidentally led to detect those of a large species of Dyschiriits, 

 which occurs in great abundance on the same locality, and 

 which appears to be unnoticed by Dejean. On turning up 

 the sandy tracks, or burrows, above high-water mark, to 

 uncover the Hesperophili, I found their ferocious enemy, the 

 aforesaid Dyschirius, pursuing his work of destruction. 

 These Dyschirii burrow after, seize, shake, (as the Cicindela 

 campestris does its prey,) and devour the luckless Hespe- 

 rophili : so intent are they on their purpose, that I have 



