94 THE entomologist's record. 



danicus, L., too, was common, and also Caloptenus vulcanius. Sweeping 

 among shrubs produced an occasional specimen of Arminda hrunneri, 

 Kr,, a monotypic genus confined to the islands. Krauss records it 

 from Tenerife, but I only found it in the Grand Canary, in various 

 parts of the Barranco de Tirajana, never common. It is related to 

 Platyphpna, Fisch., which is abundantly represented in the south of 

 Europe by the stumpy little frog-like P. giornae, Rossi, but can never 

 be mistaken for it ; apart from the structural differences' in the head 

 and elsewhere, it is a much more slender insect; the male, in fact, is 

 quite an elegant creature. Trigonidium cicindeloides, Serv., was fairly 

 numerous in some moist grass at one spot ; it is a very curious 

 creature, and hardly looks like a cricket ; the long yellow hind legs 

 make a great contrast with the shining dark blue beetle-like elytra. 

 It is a highly specialised creature, is incapable of flight, and yet has a 

 very wide distribution. 



Platycleis grisea, Fabr., and P. tessellata, Charp., were also quite 

 common in the same locality. In the nearly dry bed of the river 

 itself, at the bottom of the gorge, Liogryllus biniaculatiis, De G., was 

 very numerous under stones, usually in pairs. Conocephalus nimidibidaris, 

 Charp., was fairly common among grass ; the only other species that 

 we observed in the island was Acrotylns patruelis, Sturm., which is 

 abundant in the beautiful gardens of the Hotel Catalina, near the port, 

 and probably everywhere else in suitable situations. 



On September 15th, we landed at Santa Cruz, the port of Tenerife, 

 aiter a sleepless night on an abominable Spanish mail of 634 tons, 

 the " Leon y Castillo " advertised as a " magnificent new screw 

 Steamer." The island of Tenerife is really a cordillera of volcanic 

 ridges culminating in the famous Rico de Teyde, towering up to an 

 altitude of over 12,000ft. in the south ; the flanks are consequently 

 very steep, and on the sheltered side, protected from the Atlantic by 

 the hills, everything is burnt and brown, with not so much as a palm- 

 tree to relieve the desiccated monotony ; there was no temptation to stop 

 and collect here. About 2,000 feet, we reached the old town of La 

 Laguna, in the midst of a fertile plateau, that witnessed the final 

 stand of the aboriginal Guanches against the invading Spaniard ; the 

 contrast between La Laguna and Santa Cruz is very striking ; the 

 latter is a typical southern port, with white houses and green Persian 

 blinds, all glittering in the sun ; the former is a grim, rather gloomy, 

 Spanish provincial town ; the grey houses, old doorways with time- 

 worn armorial bearings, and lofty towers, make the traveller think 

 that he is among the hills of northern Aragon, or in the sunburnt 

 valley of the Ebro. 



We arrived on the morning after a "fiesta," when there was no 

 accomodation available, so we were obliged to push on to the next 

 village, but before leaving, I called on Don Anatsel Cabrera, a surgeon 

 in practice in the town, and a well-known entomologist. I was fortu- 

 nate enough to find him at home, and was at once overwhelmed with 

 information as to collecting grounds and the kindly gift of a boxful of 

 specimens ; Don Anatael's generosity was almost embarrassing, for he 

 pressed upon me specimens that are rare and difficult to find, sa'ying he 

 would be able to obtain more. My gratitude at the time was even 

 increased when we left the island some ten days later, for I was not 

 destined to find many of the rare and peculiar species, which he begged 



