90 [^P"i. 



fade, rapidly in nature (owing to exposure to the light), and slowly in 

 the cabinet, towards brown, and this seems to be no exception to the 

 general rule. 



Evidence that has reached me from various sources establishes 

 the fact that, during the last few years, Kent has proved surprisingly 

 rich in dark and extreme melanic forms of Lepidoptera. 



Norden, Corfe Castle : 



February Mh, 1905. 



[This variety was partially described, but not named, by the late Mr. C. G. 

 Barrett in Ent. Mo. Mag., August, 1903, p. 200.— G. T. P.]. 



The genus Aphodius, Illiger, in the Isle of Man. — The following notes summa- 

 rize my experience with the genus Aphodius in the Isle of Man during the last few 

 years. The Rev. H. A. Stowell evidently did not devote much attention to this 

 group during the time he collected in Manghold Parish, 1860-62, for in his sum- 

 mary of the Manx Coleoptera (Zoologist, 1862) he allots but 18 species to the 

 Lamellicornia, and in his paper only specifically mentions A. rufipes, noting its 

 nocturnal habits and the fact of its often flying to light. 



The following species I have met with, as a rule commonly, in the various 

 localities in the Island where I have collected : — 



Aphodius fossor, L., A. fimetarius, L., A. merdarins, F., A. purtctato-sulcatus, 

 Sturm, A. prodromus, Brahm, A. contaminatiis, Herbst, A. rufipes, L., and A. ater, 

 de G., the last mentioned occurring in great abundance, especially on the hills 

 in stercore ovino, being accompanied by occasional examples of the variety with 

 dull red elytra, the A. terremis, Kirby. These eight species belong to the group of 

 Aphodii, all of which are common and widely distributed throughout the British 

 Isles, probably no district of the size of the Isle of Man having any of them absent. 



A. erraticus, L. : about 20 specimens have occurred in stercore equina, usually 

 in company with A. luridus: Bradda Hill, 26.5.03 ; Mull Hills, 21.5.03 ; Poolraish, 

 27.5.04. 



A. fastens, F. : has occurred singly as follows : Mull Hills, 20.8.02 ; Colby, 

 17.9.03; Silverdale, Malew, 10.7.01. 



A. nitidulus, F. : one specimen in stercore equino. Mull Hills, 10.8.03. 



A. rufescens, F. : seven specimens in stercore equino ; Bradda, 18.8.03 ; Derby- 

 haven, 13.8.99,; Kirk Michael, 31.8.01 ; Mull Hills, 2.8.03, 13.9.02. 



A. lapponum, Gyll. : six specimens taken by Mr. W. R. Teare, 24.5.03, near 

 the Round Table between South Barrule and Cronk Fedjag, in stercore ovino by 

 the roadside at a height of 1000 feet. This is an interesting addition to the sparse 

 Manx List of northern mountain species. 



A. porcus, F. : a few examples have occurred : Poi-t St. Mary. 13.9.03, one 

 specimen on surface of rock pool on the shore : Mull Hills, 23.9.03, three specimens 

 in stercore ovino et equino ; Colby Glen, 17.9.04, one specimen by sweeping. 



A. pusillus, Herbst : about a dozen specimens have occurred in stercore equino 

 et ovino; Calf Sound, 26.5.02; Bradda, 25.5.04; Mull Hills, 6.6.04 ; Colby Glen, 

 11.6.04; Poolraish, 26.5.04. 



A. obJiteratus, Panz. : one specimen at Kirk Michael, 31.8.01. 



A. luridus, F. : has occurred in some numbers at various localities in the south 



