NOTES ON COtEOtTERA, 11 



and the remaining three legs complete it. Tnis rule, of course, excludes 

 the water insects, which would simply gyrate from side to side if they 

 attempted to follow it, and consequently they possess a large pair of 

 hind legs, usually furnished with long swimming hairs, which they 

 use and " feather," exactly as one does the oars of a boat. 



Sitting upon the gently -shelving margin of a stream or pond, with 

 muddy stones, slightly embedded in the ooze, and patches of 

 rejectamenta — dead leaves, faggots, and such rubbish as generally 

 finds its way into water, strewn about upon the mud, we shall see by 

 close observation that that just beneath us, from which the water has 

 receded through evaporation caused by the hot sun, which is still 

 shining brightly, is simply alive with riparian insects. Of these 

 AncJiomenns manjinatm will be about the largest, and a handsome 

 fellow he is, too : metallic green, with the distinguishing white marginal 

 streak at the sides of the elytra, and many others of the genus will be 

 there ; A. viduus var. moestm, a fairly large black one, a.ndfHli{/inosus, 

 rather smaller and narrower ; prasinus, with blue, red and green colouring, 

 and the pale-legged albipes. Very similar to ^. nian/inatus, at first sight, 

 is Chlaenius vestituf!, which occasionally occurs abundantly in such a 

 situation, but can be easily detected by the white apex of the elytra, 

 and more pubescent aspect. Among these, Elaphrus riparius and 

 cupreuii, with their coarsely shagreened elytra, may dart ; they are 

 very splendid, irisated beetles, the former bronze-green, and the latter 

 dark-purplish, with tiny raised patches or warts on their backs. As 

 regards the smaller fry of the carnivorous beetles, one finds plenty of 

 sport among the long genus Bembidiiuii, which includes forms of our 

 smallest Geodephaga, and is, like Apion, so uniform in shape, and, to 

 a great extent, in size and coloration, that its uncommon and rare 

 members are always in great requisition among coleopterists. To see 

 many Bembidium minimum racing about, tiny flashes of metallic blue, 

 over the dark mud, is a very pretty sight, and one that may often be 

 repeated, as the insect is among the commonest of the genus, as well 

 as the smallest. Of the Brachelytra we find on the surface of the 

 mud, there is a very great number, many species of Homalota, 

 PhilontJius, Steiius, and Lathrobiuiii, being exclusively taken there. 

 What the peculiar fascination of the mud is for these beetles is not 

 well known, but I think it is, probably, for the most part, the old tale of 

 " Big fleas and little fleas." It will be noticed that almost all the species 

 found on it are voracious ; the tiniest probably go to pick up what 

 they can of the organisms evaporation leaves helpless and exposed 

 upon the bare mud-surface ; larger species go to pick up the tiniest, 

 and " so ad infinitum." It can hardly be for the same reason that a 

 fly will bask, in October, upon a sunlit fence for hours without 

 moving — because the warmth is genial and vivifying to it — for these 

 insects could be just as warm, and in as full reception of the sun's 

 rays, in places where they never are found ; although that they are far 

 more abundant, and to be seen to the greatest advantage when the sun is 

 hot, is indisputable, and a fact that is only true of those insects that 

 inhabit places which are able to combine heat with a certain amount 

 of moisture.*'' 



* I have often noticed Centhorhynclms littira, and other insects, in very dry- 

 places, apparently too paralyzed or exhausted to walk with their wonted becoming 

 dignity by the heat of the mid-day sun beating full upon them, struggling, 

 squirming, and wriggling as best they can to the mouth of rabbit-holes, and similar 

 retreats, that they may roll down them, and so escape the strength of Sol. — CM. 



