230 [October, 



which Evans' very uncertain figure was taken ; probably there was 

 an error in identification." 



A detailed account of the habits of 8. metalliea, appearing in a 

 paper on " Neuroptera collected in the upper portion of Strathglass 

 in 1899," by Mr. King in the Ent. Mo. Mag., xxxvi (1900, p. 182 - 

 183), I here give in full, as it will aff'ord material for comparison with 

 my own notes: — " This species was first sighted on June lOth, flying 

 in a little corrie near Tomich ; it was very difiicult to capture then, 

 as it flew so wildly, and the nature of the ground did not allow of 

 pursuit. On this day I went to the locality where I had taken it in 

 1880, but could find no trace of it, and for about fourteen days I 

 constantly visited the locality, but without success. My idea is, that 

 when the species emerges it wanders away from its birth-place till fully 

 mature, when it returns. Its habit is to fly for long distances near 

 the margin of the loch, keeping out about two or three feet and 

 parallel to the edge ; the speed is fairly swift, and to catch the insect 

 the net must be wielded rapidly. They continue their flight back- 

 wards and forwards as long as the sun is bright, but when the sun 

 goes down they fly off and settle amongst the heather. If one's eyes 

 are keen enough the insect may be captured at rest, although it is 

 very easily startled. Mr. Briggs and I found the insects at various 

 lochs, but always in more or less small numbers. After Mr. Briggs 

 left I was very fortunate in getting one fine day's work at Loch-en- 

 Ang, where I found the species in some numbers, but the day was 

 what might be described as an ideal one, with little or no wind." 



Since 1899 8. metalliea had not been taken in Great Britain until 

 last August. 



Having briefly reviewed the history of the insect in this country, 

 I will now give my own notes and experiences in Sussex. On August 

 3rd I set out to collect at some ponds near Tunbridge Wells (but 

 well within the county of Sussex), which had previously been de- 

 scribed to me as very deep and quite hidden away in the woods. 

 Having reached the first pond, I noticed, to my surprise, what I took 

 to be specimens of Gordulia csnea flying round the edge : a capture 

 could not be effected here, so a move was made to another pond not 

 far off, where there was but one opening in the dense foliage over- 

 hanging the water ; after waiting a few minutes, a supposed G. cenea 

 came bv, and very shortly found itself in my net. I bottled the 

 specimen at once, very pleased with the idea that I had obtained C. 

 (snea on such a late date, and went on to the next sheet of water, 



