1919.) 2o9 



Coleoptera at the Lizard, Cornwall. — During a fortniglit (from June 6th 

 last onwards) spent at the Lizard in quest of Coleoptera I had the gratification 

 of securing a considerable number of the rare Dytiscid, *Af/abus brmweus F. 

 They occurred in gravelly little pools in the bed of a deep, drain-like rivulet. 

 In consequence of the drought of the previous weeks no water was flowing, and 

 the prostrate drying water-plants showed that none had passed over them for 

 many days. Notwithstanding this advantage for the beetle-hunter, the nar- 

 rowness of the channel, with its steep sides rising in places almost upright 

 for three feet or more, made collecting rather difficult. Moreover, the water- 

 course was rocky and thickly strewn with large stones which had to be thrown 

 out in order to work at the pools, whilst boulders demanding at least a crowbar 

 to shift them now and again blocked the way. Shingle, rocks, and stones 

 •were all harsh and angular, and my water-net, although small and very strong, 

 needed extensive repaii-s at the end of the hunt. Overhead, here and there, 

 a luxuriant growth of heather and gorse from both sides overlapped in the 

 middle and formed so effective a curtain that some clearance with the pocket- 

 knife was needed to get light as well as room for movement. Hitherto I had 

 sought for A. bruiuieus in streamlets well open to sunshine ; it was therefore 

 surprising to me to get it amidst such gloomy surroundings. Another good 

 capture was that of Miarus mic7-os Germ., of which I secured about sixty 

 examples. It was apparently not attached to any particular plant. Several 

 specimens occurred on species of Crejn's and Lotus ; and on a small detached 

 cluster of Armeria I took upwards of twenty ; yet on a large patch of the 

 same flower, several yards iu length, close by, not one was found. The insect 

 was distributed all over the district, and as a rule was taken two or more at 

 a time by general sweeping. My other captures include : Harpahcs tene- 

 broms Pej., H. serripes Schonh. (and, whilst waiting at Helston, a specimen 

 each of Anisodactyhis binotatus F. and its var. spurcaticornis Dej. were taken 

 in the road to Penrose), and a black form of Amaru uvata F. 



Although carefully looked for, Staphylmidae were conspicuously scarce, 

 and traps of fur, feather, and sugar yielded common things only — and those 

 very rarely. The moss in the rills seemed to be also barren of the tribe, the 

 only species observed being the common Stemis ytdtula which leisurely stalked 

 out now and then, excepting in one little waterfall, well above high-tide mark, 

 where I secured a single example of *Lesteva fontinalis Kies., and, to my 

 surprise, from the weed of this absolutely fresh water several Micralymma 

 fMa;-jwww Stroem (breoipenne Gyll.) and Atheta halobrectha Shp. were shaken — 

 8pe<:ies not perhaps worth noting except for the unusual habitat. 



Paljncornes were there in abundance, however ; at Kynance Ochthebius 

 impressicoUis Lap. {bico/on Steph.) occurring in countless numbers, and with 

 them a sprinkling of O. impressus Marsh. A single example of Hydraena 

 gracilis Germ, also occurred, and was the one and only representative of the 

 genus that I met with. At Caerthilian Helophori weve found in myriads, but 

 they are not yet determined. 



Limnius troglodytes Gyll. also was in the streams, and in a grass trap 

 three Hyperaspis reppensis Herbst were taken ; * Heterototntts (Brachypterus) 

 pulicarius L. several, and *Meligethes mbruyosm Gyll. by sweeping; Silpha 

 obscura L. faii-ly common on the paths, etc. ; Aviphiinallus {Rkizotrogus) 



