93 



feet of altitude) I obtained several specimens of a Oicindela which was of the dark colour 

 of the ashes among which it lives, and could be seen only when it was in motion, so 

 closely did it agree in colour with the ground. The same species also occurred upon the 

 volcanic mountain Asama, the slopes of which are likewise of dark ashes and scoriae. 



Of Oarabidaj I captured very few specimens, but received several fine species from my 

 brothers. I have seen no Oarabids corresponding to our large species of Oalosoma and only 

 one Carabus, but some striking specimens of Damaster occur. These are elongate black 

 beetles, with the elytra resembling those of some tenebrionids (Blaps), but with the thorax 

 much elongated, and the legs very long, so that they must be able to run rapidly. Only 

 one living specimen was seen by me. The other carabids observed were mostly Harpalus, 

 Pterostichus and Amara. 



Water beetles closely resembled Canadian ones and among them was a large Hydro- 

 philus like H. triangularis. Staphylinidje seemed to be very rare, and of carrion beetles 

 the most common species was a large black Silpha. Coccinelida? produced some very 

 pretty " lady birds," but very few of the species were abundant. 



One of the most brilliant beetles obtained was a fine green buprestis (a species of 

 Chrysochroa) which is found noc uncommonly in the mountainous regions of Nikko and 

 Hakone, and probably infests the giant conifers which grow there so plentifully. In the 

 same district occur tine species of Chalcophora, of which one is much like the C. fortis which 

 lives in Canadian pine trees. The only other buprestid observed was a small species 

 which occurred plentifully on grasses and flowering shrubs, and which is much like a small 

 Brachys. 



Of all the Coleoptera observed, the most tropical in appearance as well as the most 

 bulky, was a giant Scarabeid [Xylotrnpes dichotomies) which occurs abundantly in the 

 districts above mentioned, and probably inhabits decaying sp ^cimens of the big trees. 

 The male of this tine insect has upon his head a long horn, fl itteued and forke I at the tip, 

 and a shorter, notched protubf^rance upon the thorax, in which the long horn can rest 

 when the head is raised. The beetles vary considerably in size, and large ones will measure 

 two inches in length, and more than an inch in width ; the horn on the head being one 

 and one quarter inches long. The family Scaraba^idaj was also rich in the tl)wer-loving 

 Cetonians, some species of which were so abundant as to be very injurious to vegetation. 

 A greenspecies about half an inchlong swarmed in the fields near Yokohama, and destroyed 

 especially the beans, which form an important crop. 



A pretty mottled green Euryomia was in such swarms upon roses, altheas, etc., thi^j 

 all the flowers were eaten off before they could expand, and each bud would be the centre 

 of a struggling group, which when disturbed buzzed about like a swarm of angry bees. 

 Copris, Ge-olrupes, and other dung-beetles were numerous on the country trails where the 

 packhorses had marked their passage. 



The Lucanidas, or Stag-beetles furnished two tine species of Lucanus, and also some 

 good specimens in the genus Dorcus, probably of two species. These seem to be gener- 

 ally distributed, epecially in the wooded regions already quoted. 



With such a rich and varied vegetation the leaf-feeding Chrysomelidje were naturally 

 rich in species and numbers. Many of the species were very pretty, and among the most 

 common were some species of liea-beetles, one just like the little striped-wing turnip fl.ja- 

 beetle. 



Next to the Scarabceidje, the most interesting beetles wei'e the Snout-beetles, or 

 weevils (Rhyncophora). The E,hynchitidtB and Attelabidae were especially well repre- 

 sented by very pretty species. Of Curculionidse there were also numerous species, but 

 as my specimens have not yet been mounted [ d) not know what they are. I only ob- 

 tained one specimen of Balaninus, but found the acorns of some oaks to be greatly infested 

 by larvie of these nut-weevils. 



Among the Japanese names for beetles are Kogane-mushi (gold-insects) and Yoroi- 

 mushi (mailed insects). 



Diptera. — The common house-fly is not in Japan the pest that it is found to be in 

 America, and only in a few places did I notice more than occasional specimens. Other 

 kinds of flies are, however, abundant, and some of them are large and showy, such as a 

 large robber-fly (Asilidt\3) with brilliant green eyes and a conspicuous tuft of white 



