idii. 1 1 59 



swarming with Amara a^jricaria, Payk., or Ilyhius ater, De G., these two insects 

 being the most noticeable for this peculiarity. For the first named species the 

 date recorded for several years ranges between the last week in May to the first 

 week in Jnne. I have no special note about the other species, neither have I any 

 notes as to the predominence of either sex, an omission which I regret. 



The largest water beetle hitherto met with is a female specimen of Acilius 

 sulcatus, L 



The Staphylinidx are not as a rule much in evidence, perliaps tlie most 

 interesting sjjecies being Deleaster dichrous, Gr., of which I took a single specimen 

 of the var. leachii, Curtis. 



The families more commonly represented ar<! Silphidx, Gcotrupidse and 

 Aphodiidx. Of the fij'st named I have already alluded to Necrodes, which is a 

 regular visitant and which I have never met with in any other way. Necrophorus 

 is represented by humator, Goeze, ruspator, Er., mortuorum, F., and vespillo, L. 

 They are named here in the order in which they commonly occur, some years, 

 however, vespillo may be as common as ruspator is scarce. 



Silpha is usually limited to rugosa, L., and atrata, L., but very rarely 

 Ixvigata, F., puts in an appearance. 



The species belonging to these three genera have a habit of flying round 

 the lamp in a gradually diminishing circle, then on alighting, they rush about 

 in a hurried, aimless manner, vuitil apparently satisfied with their position, they 

 setttle down and remain motionless, sometimes they are still there on the 

 following morning, hours after the light has been tiu'ned off. 



The Geotrupidx furnishes bvit one species, G. spinigcr. Marsh., and the 

 Aphodiidse similarly with A. rujipes, L., which is a species I have also taken flying 

 by moonlight. Occasionally other species of this genus may be found, but siich 

 occiu'rences are rare. A noteworthy visitant is Serica hrunnea, L. 



Of the other Orders I have referred above to ^^schna cyanea, Mull., which 

 is the only dragon-fly I have met with at light. It prefers the top of the 

 standard abovit a foot away from the globe, and having settled with its head 

 towards the light will remain for hours motionless except for an incessant but 

 faint quivering of the wings. 



Ht/me7io2)iera are represented by variotis species of the Ichneumonidseoi which 

 I have no complete notes; Diptera mainly by Tipulidie and Anthomyidpe. Last 

 year the former family was very much in evidence, and particularly from Jtdy 

 to October, was more numerously represented than any other family of insects. 

 On the whole 1910 was a disappointing year, one missed so many of the moths 

 which hitherto had been regular visitants, and the commoner species Amphidasys 

 betularia, L., Tryphxna pronuha, L., Xylophasia polyodon, L., and Mamestra 

 brassicx, L.,although often present in comparatively large niunbers,were markedly 

 below their usual abundance. 



Enough has been said to prove the possibilities of the method. If system- 

 atically and continuously practised by Coleopterists situated in suitable local- 

 ities and possessed of the necessary leisui-e there is every reason to believe that 

 the resiilts will justify their efforts. — E. G. Batford, 2, Eockingham Street, 

 Bamsley : April 2Uh, 1911. 



