189 .J 145 



Whilst at Tring, during the Easter holidays, I worked the refuse by the side of 

 one of the reservoirs there, with, however, very indifferent results, as many of the 

 marsh species seemed to have suffered from last year's drought, which left this par- 

 ticular reservoir in a very dry state. In previous years I have found here several 

 good species among the Staphi/Iinidis, as Calodera umbrosa, Homalota fallax, H. 

 perexigua, H. autumnalis, H. hodienia, Lathrobium filiforme, L. quadratum; of all 

 these, only one specimen of H. hodierna occurred this year. 



The rubbish examined contained myriads of the common Atomaria linearis', 

 it was present in such enormous quantities as to make it a matter of extreme diffi- 

 culty to separate out any species required among the small ones. The only notable 

 insects found, besides the Homalota hodierna, were H. aquatica and H. indubia, 

 J'tenidium fuscicorne, Euconnus hirticollis, and Trachyphlaeus alternans, the last 

 named probably from adjoining higher and chalky ground. Ptenidiuni turgidum, 

 four specimens, occurred in a rotten willow tree. 



The following were taken close to the town of Chesham ; Euryporus picipes, 

 two examples, in moss, in February ; Crgphalus fagi, three dead specimens, found 

 lying in broad sinuous galleries, just beneath the thin bark of a fallen beech branch ; 

 Homalota tnlis, two, in dead leaves in the marshy part of a wood, and Stenus 

 fuscipes in the same situation; Oymnetron rostellum, one, hy S'viee-^mg. — ^E. Geo. 

 Elliman, Chesham : May Wth, 1899. 



A dark variety of Psammoechtis bipunctatus, Fabr. — Among the large number 

 of Psammachus referred to above, I found one very remarkable, and apparently unre- 

 corded variety. This specimen is wholly black, with the exception of the mouth- 

 parts, which are pitchy-testaceous, and the legs pitchy-black, the insect altogether 

 presenting a most striking departure from the type in coloration. — Id. 



Lebia crux-minor, L., in Cumberland. — I had the good fortune to capture a 

 beautiful specimen of this rare beetle on April 15th, in a meadow a few miles from 

 Carlisle. I was collecting larvae of Melitma aurinia at the time, and the day being 

 wet, the larvse were low down among their food-plant — devil's-bit scabious. It was 

 among a small colony of larvse that L. crux-minor was found, but whether it was 

 preying on them, or its occurrence in their company was purely accidental, I could 

 not decide. Diligent search among other colonies failed to produce another example, 

 nor did a thorough examination of large quaiitities of moss, which grows abundantly 

 on the same ground, meet witii any better result — F. H. Day, 6, Currock Terrace, 

 Carlisle : 3Iay 12th, 1899. 



Pachytylus migratorius at Upper Tooting. — Since January 28th I have had in 

 my possession a living example of this locust, which apparently came over from 

 Italy in a cauliflower, and was delivered at a customer's door in this neighbourhood, 

 together with the vegetable. The insect, however, was repudiated by the purchaser, 

 and was thereupon brought by the greengrocer to me. It is still in the enjoyment 

 of perfect health, eats well, and takes daily exercise in my study, always making for 

 the window, and endeavouring to climb to the highest attainable spot. I notice 

 that in leaping the wings are brought into use, just before the impetus of the bound 

 is exhausted, and that during actual flight the elytra appear to be used, as well as 

 the wings themselves. But the insect is very awkward while in the air, and seems 

 to have but little notion of directing its course. — Theodore Wood, 157, Trinity 

 Koad, Upper Tooting, S.W. : April I2th, 1899. 



