jgQ [November, 



out before our eyes, and, i£ we are to profit by tbem, we must watcb 

 them with the closeness of vision and keenness of intellect demanded 

 by the physicist in his laboratory. 



The Limes, Sutton Coldficld : October lUh, 1886. 



NOTES ON THE COLHOPTERA OE THE ISLE OF SHEPPEY. 

 BT Or. C. CHAMPION, F.E.S. 



Eor the last eighteen years, except when absent abroad, Mr. J. 

 J. Walker and I have paid a great deal of attention to the Coleopterous 

 fauna of the Isle of Sheppey. Our list contains at present about 

 900 species. The island is, or used to be, rich in salt-marsh frequent- 

 ing species. Having spent the greater part of the month of August, 

 part of the time in company with Mr. "Walker, in the island, I have 

 again had an opportunity, after a lapse of several years, of paying a 

 little more attention to the subject. The following species, among 

 others, were met with and seem noteworthy ; those marked * have not 

 hitherto been recorded from, or are noted by us for the first time in 

 the island. 



Cillenum laterale :* sparingly, under stones below high-water mark. 



Selophorus intermedius : this species used to abound in the brackish ditches ; 

 latterly I have only seen it crawling on the esplanade, not uncommonly. 



OchtJiebius exaratus : not uncommon, in company with three other species of 

 the genus, in fresh or brackish ditches. 



Cercyon aquaticiis :* rarely, in the above-mentioned "traps." 



Homalota perexigua : sparingly, by evening sweeping on the edge of the cliffs, 

 and also from rubbish on tlie banks of the ditches ; this tiny little species is found 

 in company with H. iyiquinula (and numerous other species of the genus), and is 

 difficult to detect in the net amongst the larger common species. H. ccbsuIg •* not 

 uncommon in one little sandy spot ; in short moss, as at Deal and elsewhere. 



DigJossa mersa :* rather common, beneath large boulders on the beach, and 

 below high-water mark. 



MyllcBna elongata :* rarely, on the banks of the ditches. 



PMlonthus punctiis :* rarely, in two widely separated localities ; in " traps " of 

 water plants pulled out of the fresh water ditches and left a few days to dry on the 

 banks, and in a partially dried up reedy piece of marsh ground. This is the first 

 time I have seen the species alive, though the insect is a known inhabitant of the 

 island ; we had long been looking for it. 



Somalium pt/gmcEum :* one example, evening sweeping. 



Actidium coarctatum ■* not uncommonly, in company with Diglossa, and also 

 beneath seaweed. 



