W^ LOctoljcr, 



Captures of Semiptera on the west coast of Scotland, with description of a 

 new species. — I spent fourteen of the early days of August in this locality, and this 

 record might well be headed " A search for Jlemiptera in the Wet," for it rained 

 more or less, or rather more than less every day, with a continual storm of wind. 



About lialf-a-mile from Saltcoats begins a series of sand-hills which extends 

 soutli-west to Troon — seven or eight miles. On these hills grows the Marram 

 (Psamma arenariaj, and the valleys are covered with grass, thyme, Jasione montana, 

 Galium verum, &c., and in places with a dwarf sallow. I thought I had discovered 

 a happy hunting ground like Deal, which the place entir.'ly resembles : — 

 " But oh ! the difference to me." 



I have taken more insects at Deal in a quarter-of-au-hour than I saw here in 

 a day. The " common objects of the shore " were absent — there was notliing 

 common. I think that the dearth of insects in a place apparently so favourable for 

 them is mainly caused by the fierce "wind, which here seems to sweep for ever over 

 the surface, so that nothing can abide. Deal, it is true, is affected by stormy winds, 

 but they are gentle in comparison with those by which this coast is afflicted. The 

 only thing worth a pin was Nt/sius maculatus, Fieb., found holding on among the 

 herbage. 



At Saltcoats under the shelter of a stone wall, among the roots of Achillea 

 millefolium,'! got two examples of Acocephalus hislrionicus ; and at the root of 

 Senecio Jacolcea a single specimen of what I believe to be the maeroptcrous form of 

 Athysanus sordidus ; also Acocephalus 2}oli/stolus, Fieb. 



At the Isle of Arran, in the lovely Glen Rosa, Sphyrops amhnlansw&sBhwxidi&nt 

 among ferns, and Limotettix striola, Fall., on rushes. I got one Thamnotettix 

 cruentata, Panz., on hoathcr ; and one Lygus rugicollis, Fall., on sallow. On the 

 margin of the " burn " that comes tumbling down the glen, I found Salda salta- 

 toria, Linn., S. littoraUs, Linn., and S. stellata, Curt. 



At West Kilbride, in the avenue of Crosbie Castle, I got the rare maeroptcrous 

 form of Bryocoris pteridis on ferns ; on the adjacent moors, Acocephalus bifasciatus, 

 Liini., and Agalliastes saltitans, Fall. (1), among tall heather. Ptyelus spumarius, 

 L., was common, but all the examples of this usually variable species were remarkable 

 as being of one uniform pattern, and light brown colour. On a plant of Southern- 

 wood (Artemisia AbrotanumJ growing in a shepherd's garden, I found the larva, 

 pupa, and imago of a species of Tyjjhloryhidce, which I believe to be undescribed. 

 and which may be briefly characterised as follows : — 



EurTERYX ABEOTANI, M. sp. 



Upper-side pale greenish-yellow. Head usually with two dark spots on the 

 front, but sometimes immaculate. Pronotum sometimes with one or two brown 

 spots on the sides. Scutellum black at the basal angles. Elytra : coritim broadly pale 

 exteriorly, inwardly, except at the base, with long, broad purplish-brown dashes 

 extending to the apex ; the nerves of the pale ground colour ; clarus pale, usually 

 with a brown central streak and one or two small brown spots. Wings diaphanous, 

 iridescent ; nerves black. Legs pale yellow. Abdomen black on the under-side ; 

 in the ? , the last abdominal segment posteriorly, and the genital segments on each 

 side of the middle, broadly pale yellow. Length, 1^ line. 



This species was first taken last year by the Rev. T. A. Marshall, on southern- 

 wood in his garden at Lastingham. — J. W. Douju.AS, Lee : Sept. 2nd, 1874. 



