46 [Fehniaiy, 



It is perhaps worth while to mention the habits of a few ofi 

 these species. 



Aleochara rujicornis, a rare species, is taken in moss, and by sweeping near the ' 

 nest. 



Dinarda McBrkeli is almost always found by means of the clump of wood 1 

 described above. I have taken it in the spring and also in the autumn. 



Atemeles emarginatiis I have taken by beating shrubs round the nest ; it is also ' 

 found in company with Formica fusca, Myrmica scahrinodis, Icevinodis, and ruginodis. 

 At Guestling, near Hastings, last spring I took twelve specimens out of a very small 

 stump infested by the second of these ants. 



Myrmedonia humeralis I have only found by sifting dead leaves near the nest. 



Quedius brevls, six of which species I once took in a bunch of grass buried 

 in the side of the hillock. 



Dendrophilus punctatus, I have taken this insect at Weybridge with Formica 

 rufa ; it is also recorded as having been found with F.fuliginosa. 



Coccinella distincta is found under leaves and crawling over the hillocks. 



Monotonia conicicollis and formicetorum are to be taken by beating the clump • 

 of wood ; it is said they are only to be found in the autumn, but I have taken both 

 species in the spring. 



Clythra quadripunctata I have taken on small shrubs, and also flying near the 

 nests. The larva of this insect lives in the interior of the nest, as is also the case 

 ■with the next mentioned species. 



Cetonia floricola : I am told that in the north, where this insect occurs, the 

 method usually adopted is to dig the pupae up from the interior of the nest and 

 breed the perfect insect. 



PoEMiCA ruLiGiNOSA.— The home of this ant, a black shining 

 insect with pale yellow tarsi, is in a tree, generally oak or beech, 

 which is often dead. 



The ants may be seen leaving and returning to their nest in thin 

 long lines, always using the same " runs " or tracks, which extend to 

 considerable distances from the starting point, and it is not always 

 easy when you meet with one of these " runs " to discover where the 

 tree is whence the ants come. 



The tree having been found, the ants will be observed to enter 

 the nest by a hole or holes at the roots or in the trunk ; all such 

 cavities should be "packed" or filled with grass, and should the tree 

 be hollow, a large bunch of grass twisted together so that it can be 

 moved bodily, may be placed in the hollow, or a piece of old damp 

 wood loosely wrapped in paper, or an old bone, are also good when 

 treated in the same way. 



One of the disappointments when working this ant is frequently 

 caused in the following manner : —The tree is often situated by the 

 road-side, and when you visit it again in expectation of reaping a rich 



