180 [January, 



When a stone, on being raised, revealed half a dozen or more of the latter insect, as 

 often happened, the noise of the explosions of these large and powerful " Bombardiers" 

 ■was quite startling, and the volatile liquid they discharged was strong enough to 

 cause a distinct sensation of burning in my fingers, which were deeply stained brown 

 for several days afterwards. At least five species of Brachinus were present, the 

 little pallid B. testaceus, Ramb., and sclopeta, F., being the most noteworthy : with 

 the latter Drypta dentata, Rossi, occurred very copiously in damp places. Callistus 

 lunatus, F., and the beautiful Lehia puhipennis, Duf , were but seldom fovmd, but 

 the usually rare Singilis bieolor, Ramb., was quite plentiful, with two species of 

 Platytarsus, and of Cymindis, Licinus silplioides, F. (variety), Masoreus cegyptlacus, 

 Dej. (in sandy spots), Chleenius chrysocephalus,'Ro8si,andazureus,T>ej. (rare), Ortkomus 

 Mspanica, Dej., Pereus politus, Dej., and the elegant Feronia crenata, Dej., among 

 others. The large and fine Ditonms cephalotes, Dej., occurred rarely near San 

 Roque ; two species of Aristus were not unfrequent, with the active little Apotomus 

 rufus, Rossi, under almost every big stone. Many interesting forms of Fselaphida 

 and ScydmcBnidcB were to be seen, on close scrutiny, clinging to the under-sides of the 

 stones with sundry Staphylinida, the rare and curious Ctenoniastax Kiesentoetteri, 

 Ktz., among them ; as well as two species of the singular genus Cossyphus {Dejeani, 

 Breme, and incostatus, Lap.), Calcar elongatuni, Hbst., Adelostoma sulcatum, Dup., 

 the queer little linear Boromor'plms tagenoides, Luc, Litolorus planicollis, Waltl, 

 and two species each of Stenosis and DichiUus. All these latter were to be found 

 in the tufts of grass, with a host of other small beetles, chiefly Rhynchophora : 

 among these may be mentioned Lencohimatium elongatuni, Er., Dermestes sardous, 

 'Kust. , Melyris gramtlata, F. (abundant), two species each of Sphenoptera, Aphaiiis- 

 tichus, Trachys, and Throscus, some eight or ten Anthici, Scleron armatum, Waltl 

 (in plenty), various species of Ptinus, Acalles, Gymnetron, Pachytycliius, Bar is, 

 Phytirhinus, &c., with occasional examples of Cleonus excoriatus, Gryll., Rhytideres 

 plicatus, 01., the gaudy black and scarlet Lithonoma Umhata, F., Platynaspis villosa, 

 Fourc, and a Thorictus. Three or four brilliant green and coppery-red Chrysomela 

 abounded on the wild mint, and the beautiful C. americana, L., was to be found in 

 plenty on Lavandula stcechas. Walking about in the roads Brachycerus undatus, F., 

 and a smaller species were not rarely seen, and the Coprophaga were represented, in 

 their usual habitats, by the big black Copris hispana, L., Geotrupes Hofmannseggii , 

 Frm., momus, Oliv., and hypocrita, Serv., Bulas bison, L., Onthophagus taurus, L., 

 and others of the last genus, all common. 



In and about small pools of water were found various Dyschirii and Bledii, 

 Georysstis, sp., Parnus liydrohates, Kies., and a fair number of the smaller Hydrade- 

 phaga. Among the wood-feeders the tiny Hypohorus ficus, Er., abounded in the 

 small twigs of fig trees, burrowing under the bark, and an old mulberry stump at 

 Linea was full of Liparthrum mori, Aube. Hibernating under the loose flakes of 

 bark on Eucalyptus trees at Campamento, were swarms of common beetles ; among 

 them the pretty little Cardiophorus 6-pmictatus, Latr., in chisters of a dozen or 

 more. Small puff balls yielded a good supply of Lycoperdina bovista, F. 



My most interesting captures were, howevei-, made in the nests of the large 

 black ants {Atta capitata, and Barbara,), which abounded under stones. With 

 these ants I was fortunate enough to find the rare and singular little Myrmecoplulous 



