<^^^ AND ^{"^ 



JOURNAL OF VARIATION. 



No. 6. Vol. III. June 15th, 1892. 



Scientific notes. 



The British Coccinellid^. — {Co7itinued from p. 104.) 

 HiPPODAMiA, Mulsant. — This genus contains two species. H. 13- 

 punctata, L., is usually found in marshy places, among reeds, etc., and 

 is not common. The only record I have is by Rev. W. F. Johnson, 

 whose specimens are exhibited. He takes it "on water-plants, etc., 

 near marshy places." The localities given by him are Armae;h, Belfast, 

 and Dublin. If. variegafa, Goeze {Cocc. mutalulis), is easily recognized 

 by its oblong shape, and in having a row of spots arranged somewhat 

 in form of a semicircle across the elytra. The spots are often confluent, 

 and at times only faintly present. The larva seems to feed on Aphides 

 frequenting low herbage. I obtained my series chieflv at Sheire (Surrey), 

 but have also met with it at Rainham (Essex) on banks of the Thames. 

 Mr. W. E. Sharp (Chester) writes me that " C. mutabilis is very common 

 on the rough star-grass of the sandhills on the coast." Canon Fowler 

 states that it is not recorded from the northern counties of England or 

 from Scotland. 



Anisosticta, Duponchel. — Our single species, A. ig-punctaia, is 

 found chiefly among reeds and aquatic plants. The species is common 

 in localities near London. On one occasion Mr. Cripps and myself 

 bagged over xoo specimens at a small marsh in Esher. It can also be 

 obtained freely at the ponds of Walthamstow, Loughton, etc. Mr. T. 

 H. Hall "for some years past found them plentifully and in variety by 

 sweeping tufts of decaying reeds in the shallows on Barnes Common." 

 Mr. Ford states that it is scarce in Hastings district. Mr. W. E. Sharp 

 (Chester) records one capture only. 



Adalia, Mulsant. — Three species are included in this genus by 

 Canon Fowler, viz., A. obliterata and A. bipimciata (formerly of the 

 genus Coccinella), and A. boihnica, a species new to Britain. A. 

 obliterata, L., has an M-like marking on its thorax, and is usually 

 found in fir plantations. It is generally distributed in South of 

 England, but not common. I have captured it at Eshcr, Sheire and 

 Farnham (Surrey). Mr. T. H. Hall took some under bark about ten 

 years ago in Bradley Wood, Derby. Mr. Ford says it is " somewhat 

 common, but local, in Hastings district." Rev. W. F. Johnson records 

 it from Armagh, and Mr. H. G. Cuthbert captured it in Dublin district 



