64 [August. 



Coleoptera at Aviemore, Inverness-shire. — In the bogiiiiiing of June last., 

 Mr. Allin and I had about a fortnight's collecting in the above neighbourhood (a 

 district hitherto, I believe, entirely unworked by entomologists), where, in addition 

 to very extensive fir woods, which just now are in a young state of growth (the older 

 trees having been all felled some years since), wo had the higher Gramjiians, 

 Braeriach, Ben Muich Dhui, Cairngorm, &c., in our vicinity. Most of the species 

 observed were (with one or two exceptions) similar to those found at Braemar, as might 

 bo expected, Aviemore being only thirty miles north of that place, on the other side 

 of the Grampians. We werCj doubtless, at the wrong time for many things, as 

 several conspicuous common species did not put in an appearance ; however, what 

 we did get was little and good. Amongst many other species captured by us, I 

 mention the following : — 



Carabus catemdatus ; an entirely black and also a pitchy coloured form occurred 

 on the mountains, at an elevation of 3000 feet and upwards. Amara aJjiina ,- I 

 found a single $ example of this very rare Bi-itish species in moss, at an elevation of 

 about 2500 feet ; many days working failed to produce more. Hydroporus Q-lineatvs ; 

 vars. occurred, in company with the type form, in which the dark lines on the elytra 

 were almost obliterated. Agabus Solieri ; abundant in a clear weedless loch (which 

 owed its supply of water to the great quantity of melting snow), on Braeriach, at an 

 elevation of quite 3000 feet. The beetle was to be found in clusters of often a dozen, 

 liiding under the stones at the edge, and easily captured by hand. A. guttatus oc- 

 curred with it, but not a single bipustulatus. Oxgpoda riqncola, Eye, edinensis, 

 Sharp, and aterrima ; under stones and in moss on the hills. Brt/oporus riigipennis 

 and Mgcetoporus tenuis occurred very rarely in moss high up, generally near Ihe 

 tops of the mountains ; I even found a specimen of the latter under a stone at the 

 cairn on Bi-aeriach (4265 feet elevation). Xantholinus lentus ; very sparingly under 

 bark of Scotch fir, not always caught when seen, as it is very fond of dropping the 

 instant the bark is removed. Homalium Seeri (? vile var.) ; under bark of fir, in 

 company with type vile. Rhizophagus politus, a very small individual under bark ; 

 liitherto not recorded from Scotland. Cryptophagus parallelus, Bris. ; rarely, by 

 beating cut fir tops lying on ground, and not accompanied by C. dentatus. Lathri- 

 dius rtigosiis, with pitchy-brown elytra, in some small quantity, in the snuff-like 

 fungus on alder so much liked by Liodes and Sphindus (I have recently taken the 

 same Lathridius, wholly black, in the like fungus at Loughton). Trichius fasciatus ; 

 dug out of a birch stump ; we were probably too soon for this species. Eros Aurora ; 

 one, under birch bark. Ernobius nigrinus ; rarely, by beating dead fir tops. 

 Cls punctulatus ; common, under fir bark, in company with Abdera iriguttaia. 

 Zilora ferruginea ; rather commonly by barking young dead standing firs. It varies 

 considerably in size (and colour) the larger speciiuens being fully twice the length of 

 the smallest. Carida Jlexuosa ; rarely, in hard woody fungus on alder. Dirccea, 

 Tetratoma ancora, Siud Orchesia minor; occasionally under fir bark. Anfhonomus 

 varians and Magdalinus phlegmalicus ; rarely, by beating fir. Braohonyx indigena; 

 common, but very local, one very hot sunny day (rare afterwards), by beating firs. 

 This species drops very readily, and sticks to the first place it comes to, and if not 

 found sticking round the edges of the beating net, takes a long time to find in the bottom 

 of the net as it clings to, and hides amongst, the debris of the young shoots, i&c. 

 Pi-^sodes iwtatus, Rhinomacer, Asemum, and Pogonocherus fasciculatus also occurred 

 occasionally by beating fir. Hylastes cunicularis ; rare, by beating dead fir tops, &c. 

 I might make this list vei'j much longer, but have only selected the most noteworthy 

 species. — Id. 



