COLEOPTEKA IN LUNDY ISLAND. 265 



Coleoptera in Lundy Island {trith plate). 



By ROBERT S. MITFORD, C.B., F.E.S. 



My friend Mr. Donisthorpe and I, having had for some years past 

 a great desire to visit Lundy Island in search of Coleoptera, more 

 especially with the view of endeavouring to add further species to the 

 list published by Messrs. Joy and Tomlin in the I'^nt. AJo. Maij., for 

 1900 (page 1) and 1907 (page 27), decided early this summer to 

 carry out our wish. Accordingly we left London on Sunday, June 

 8th, for Bideford, where we put up for the night at the Royal Hotel,, 

 famous for its associations with the Rev. Charles Kingsley. The next 

 morning we left Bideford at 7.30 a.m. by the s.s. " Devonia," a small 

 80 ton cargo boat absolutely devoid of any accommodation for 

 passengeis, and after a most uncomfortable and somewhat tempestuous 

 passage, the discomfort of which, however, seemed in no way to affect 

 my companion, we reached the one and only landing place on Lundy 

 Island, at 11.20 a.m. Here we were met by Mr. Allday, the Post- 

 master, who had arranged to lodge us at his cottage on the east side 

 of the Island, about a mile and a half from the landing place, and we 

 cannot speak too highly of the kindness and attention which we 

 received from him and his wife and daughter, all of whom made us 

 most comfortable during our stay. 



We remained on the Island nine days, and explored every part of 

 it, with the result that we are enabled to add 39 species to the lists 

 above referred to. Ceiithorrhijnchus contractus, Marsh., and its var. 

 palUpes, Crotch, abounded on wild cabbage, and Psijlliodes liiiidijiennis, 

 Kuts., was found on the same plant, both in the south-eastern part of 

 the Island, and more plentifully on wild cabbage growing on the east 

 cliff' on the northern side of the Postmaster's cottage, near a fine 

 pinnacle on the cliff locally known as the " Rocking-stone." Long and 

 careful search on the cliffs near and round the lighthouse at the 

 southern point of the Island and along the western cliffs, failed to 

 reveal a single specimen of the local L'ardinphorus erichsoni, Buys., 

 much to our disappointment, but Mr, Donisthorpe had the good 

 fortune to sweep one in a densely overgrown ravine in front of the old 

 Manor house. We were doubtless too late for this insect. Melanotiis 

 rutipes, Hbst., was plentiful at the northern point of the Island, as also 

 was Athoiis haeiiwrrhnidalis, F., the male specimens taken of the latter 

 beetle being of a very small form, chiefly dark in colour. The only 

 female taken differs from the type in that — besides being much smaller 

 and darker — the thorax is reddish, the posterior part and two longi- 

 tudinal stripes in the centre being black. Here also it was curious to 

 see Cetonta anrata, L., in abundance flying about amongst the rocks. 

 This species was also seen near the old Manor house. Several- 

 examples of L'oyi/iubites aeiwiis, L., including the blue form, were taken 

 at rest on the steps leading down the clift" to the northern lighthouse, 

 and on the lighthouse walls. 



By tearing up and carefully searching the roots of a yellowish 

 withered-looking grass [Holcim lanatns, meadow soft grass) on the 

 north-western cliffs, Melanop/ttlialiiia (listiivjuenda, Com., was found in 

 plenty, together with Caeiio/isis iraltuni, Boh. Nenraphes sparshalli, 

 Pen., lSc)jdiiiaeniis collarin, Mull., and Sri/ilmaenus piisillits, Mull., and 



NoNEMBER 15th, 1913. 



