[February, 



clusters of ox-eye daisy {C. leiicanthemum), huge patches, perhaps about half 

 an acre m extent, yielding none; Sitones cambrims Steph. (2); TrachiqMoevs 

 /aticollis Boh., T. myrmecophilus Seidl., T. Ufoveolatus Beck {scaberl..) m 

 some numbers; Cathormiocerus maritimusnye (17), Orthochaetes setigerBec^, 

 ana O. ijisigms Aube. Apion stoUdum Germ., and A. pomonaeY. were the only 

 individuals of any interest amongst masses of commoner species of that 

 genus. Of the Heteromera the only noteworthy examples were Mordellistena 

 maequahs Muls. {teste G. C. C.) and Sphaeriestes {Salpingus) ater Pk., Tery 

 variable in size and occurring on flowers and tall grasses all along the coast. 

 The nearest trees were three-quarters of a mile distant as the crow flies, and 

 then only a small copse, at Landewedenack. Decaying seaweed under suitable 

 conditions for Coleoptera is rare at the Lizard, and the only habitat I found 

 yielded very few individuals and those of the commonest species only, although 

 I spent some time examining the weed. 



Ill 1921, June 10th-25tb, I again went to the Lizard, on the way down 

 stavmg a night at Helston, and the following morning walking out to the 

 "Bar," a small-scale Slapton Ley. I had half-an-hour onlv to spend on the 

 sands, but was rewarded with several Lionychus ab. iinicolor Schill., Corticaria 

 crenulata Gyll., Apion confluens Kirby, etc. On reaching the Lizard there was 

 a marked contrast for the worse in the condition of the flora compared with 

 that ot last year. Little rain had fallen during the spring and none at all for 

 several weeks prior to my arrival. The herbage was stunted and sparse, the 

 grass short and parched, the ground hard-baked, Jasione being very uncom- 

 mon comparatively, and the Mdujethes and Miarus proved to be quite rare. 

 1 had decided on this visit to concentrate my attention on the quest for the 

 Cathornuocerus, but present conditions were hopeless for tho work so I 

 accordingly got out the water-net for temporary use, trusting that rain would 

 soon fall. The little rills were very low in water-some were quite dried up— 

 but the moss on the stones aud boulder, was teeming with life. I used a 

 beating tray, 2 ft. square, and a few minutes after shaking a handful of moss 

 upon It there was at least a beetle of some sort for every i in. of surface. Helophori 

 were the most abundant, but nearly all were of the commonest species, several 

 H. ^aequahs Thoms. being the only interesting form obtained. Ochthebii were 

 next m quantity, but consisted almost entirely of O. impressicollis Lap and 

 O. impressus Marsh. I got, however, 0. *nanus Steph., one only ; 1 *Paracy7nus 

 scutellaris Rosenh. {nigroaenens Sahib.) was also taken. Of Hydraena four 

 species occurred in fair numbers, viz., testacea Curt., riparia Kug., gracilis 

 Germ., and *atricapilla Wat., and O. *poweri Rye from a trickle on the rocks 

 on the shore, m some numbers. Of Staphylinids there were some 50 species, 

 but the only kinds worth noting were TachT/usa atra Gray, (lots), Atheta 

 obhta Er., and A. * gyllenhali Thoms., Lathrobium nmltipundum Gr., L. angm- 

 tatum Lac, Lestem fontinalis Kies. (3), and * Myceioporus angularis Rey. 

 Limnius tuberculatus Miill. and L. troglodytes Gyll., in abundance, were also 

 taken. 



The seaweed on the beach, so very barren last year, was now full 

 of things. I bottled a few in a cursory way just to see what they might be 

 and regret now that I gave the matter so little thought, as refugees from the 

 drought were there in numbers. My holiday, however, was already half 

 spent, no rain had fallen, Cathormiocerus, my especial que«t, had proved 



