280 THE entomologist's record. 



brilliant grassy green, and others of indigo-blue. The specimens taken 

 by me at Basingstoke Canal in June, 1887, occurred on Potamogeton 

 fiatajis, and by getting into the large patch floating on the waier, I 

 captured some filty or sixty during the afternoon. The best time of 

 day for Donacia species is from one o'clock up till seven. 



D. versicolorea, Brahm. — Known as D. bidens, 01., in Cox's 

 Handbook of Cokoptera, and also in Sharp's first edition of Catalogue 

 of Briihh Cokoptera and Fowler and Matthew's Catalogue {\Z%:^ ; in 

 second edition of Sharp's Catakgue (1883) it is termed versuokra, 

 Brahm. The shape of this species is much shorter than either of the 

 preceding, the legs also are much stouter ; the colour is uniformly 

 darker, almost black. It is very active in habits, and the best mode 

 of capturing it is to draw the leaves of the plant under water, when 

 the beetles may speedily be picked off and bottled. I have found 

 specimens as early as June, and as late as October. At Basingstoke 

 Canal, in 1887, I took a great quantity. Occurs also at Walthamstow 

 in the various ponds at that locality. The insect is widely distributed, 

 and sometimes common. 



D. sparganii, Ahr. — This insect has frequently been confounded 

 with D. dentata, and but recently I received two specimens as the 

 latter beetle. The error probably arises from the tabulation in Cox's 

 Handbook of Cokoptera, wherein it states that the posterior tibiae of 

 male are without prominences on inner side, and has thus caused the 

 confusion of the two species. The legs of D. sparganii are uni- 

 colorous dark, and more or less metallic ; while in dentata they are red. 

 Moreover, sparganii is uniformly dark, and besides a much flatter 

 insect. The only locality known to me is Watford, Hertford, where it 

 is taken by Mr. A. Pifi"ard and Mr. T. Hall. 



D. dentipes, F. — Sometimes called aquatica, L., but the latter name 

 has not been adopted in Britain, for the simple leason, that it has been 

 applied to so many of the Donacia species. The insect is one of the 

 most beautiful of the genus. Elytra of brilliant green, with a broad 

 purple and red stripe running down the entire length near suture. 

 It has been taken commonly by Mr. Piffard ; and also by Rev. 

 Theodore Wood at Aylsham, Norfolk, on aquatic plants. — G. A. 

 Lewcock. {To be concluded in our next issue.) 



r^URRENT NOTES. 



The South London Entomological Society's Report (for 1888 and 

 1889) is at last in the hands of the printer. It is expected that it 

 will be issued to members during January. Members will without 

 doubt be much interested in reading up the Reports of the Meetings 

 held in 1888. 



Our correspondent, Mr. W. Reid, of Pitcaple, has been ordered a great 

 deal of out-door exercise, and has fully determined to devote his whole 

 time this year to collecting Lepidoptera, by subscription, in North-east 

 Scotland. His intimate knowledge of the district, his scientific interest 

 in our work, and above all the personal esteem of his correspondents 

 should secure him thorough support and ensure his success, Mr. Reid 

 will reserve no shares for himself, as he wishes to be quite above sus- 



