COLEOPTKKA. 



265 



The spread of A)iosia archiptias also gives us food for reflection. It 

 is one of the few New World representatives of a large Old World 

 family. Its success in its own country is a proof of its inherent ability 

 to spread, but yet it is in the Old World that it has become renowned 

 for its power to extend its range in spite of competition. It is evident 

 from its allies in the New World anrl the fact that it has split up into 

 a number of local varieties, or even distinct species, that its introduc- 

 tion, or the introduction of the ancestor of the New World species 

 dates back very, very far. Suflice it to say here that the modifications 

 which this particular insect has undergone, have proved of advantage 

 not only as against its own nearest relations, but also as against the 

 descendants of its ancient allies in its old home. 



^OLEOPTERA. 



DiBoLiA cvNoGLossi, KocH, A Bkitish INSECT. — I have much 

 pleasure in establishing this very rare beetle as a British insect. I 

 swept a short series near Pevensey on August 11th last. This capture 

 is practically an addition to our coleopterous fauna, as, though it is 

 recorded in Stephens, it is not to be found in Fowler [t'ol. Biit. Mcx) 

 or Cox's Handbook, and it has not figured in a British list since 1866. 

 Stephens, in the Mandibulata {(^'oL, vol. iv., 1831, p. 325), writes of 

 this insect: "I possess a single example captured in the neighbourhood 

 of Bristol, "and in his il/rt»»(i'/ (1839, p. 301) notes " On Ci/iioiilossmii offici- 

 nalc, Bristol: 6."'' Eye [Knt. Ann., 1868, p. 76) writes "i>. cijno(jlossi, 

 an insect which does occur in our Cataloipie, though with much doubt." 

 It appears to occur in Central Europe and Spain. It is very rare in 

 France. IHholia belongs to the Halticidac, and may be easily known 

 by the large bifid spur at the apex of the posterior tibiie. — H. St. J. 



K. DONISTHOEPE. 



CoLEOPTERA IN ScoTLAND. — Duriug Juiie I was able to make a few 

 more excursions to places in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh. On 

 the 18th I went out in the late afternoon to Cramond Bridge, and swept 

 along both sides of a lane running by the side of the river Almond for 

 some half a mile. Though the herbage was in tine condition and many 

 of the wild flowers were in full bloom the weather conditions were, as 

 usual, adverse — dull grey skies and a cool wind — the folloAving insects 

 were, however, obtained — lAoji/docKs nnbihui, F., fairly common, Scia- 

 philns iiiti)-icat.ns,F.,< 'cntlioyJii/nr/iKs (jnadri(lcns,}^'A.,(_'.ei/a]iipe)tnis, Germ., 

 and Phaedon tuinidnbini, Kirb. This latter insect occurred in the utmost 

 profusion, and varied greatly in colour and size, constantly misleading 

 me with the hope that I had secured something new. On the 19th I 

 made another afternoon visit to Hawthornden, but on this occasion I 

 did not go at all into the grounds, my time being devoted to vigorous 

 sweeping under the hedges in the neighbouring lanes and in a planta- 

 tion of firs. Ofl" AUiaria o/licinalis came again CeNthai/ii/nchii.s ci/anl- 

 pciinis, Germ., and <'. i/itadridcns, Pz., both in plenty, while general 

 sweeping produced a fair number of good things, including the follow- 

 ing — r/iijUobius nniforniifi, Marsh., I'lati/tarsns <'c/iinatns,lionH., Jli/jii'ia 

 l>olij(ioni,\j., Sitiine-'i inincticollis, Steph., Il/tinifsinm.s riridijicnnis, Stopli. 

 (1 swept this insect again a little later in Berwickshire, Canon I'owler 

 says it occurs rarely m Scotland in the Dee district only), (laxtroidm 



* means in June. 



