J8S3 ] 261 



observation and verification ; and at present I only suggest it, for tliei'e is more than 

 one way in which I may have been deceived in the present case ; for instance, eggs may 

 have been deposited and not noticed when the water in the vase was changed. 



I may add, that during their captivity here, these specimens were carefully fed 

 and tended by Mr. Samuel Hyslop, and that at no period of their existence did they 

 shew any symptoms of the extreme voracity previously recorded in the case of this 

 species, as well as in other Dytiscida. Indeed, although during a period of ten years 

 I have kept and observed many species of water-beetles, I have never observed any 

 instance of great consumption of food. They are very fond of tadpoles, but do not 

 consume an inordinate quantity of them ; sad to say, they are remorseless cannibals. 

 Perhaps the greatest amount of voracity I can record, is due to a male of Dytiscus 

 lapponiciis, who in one night completely devoured an immature female of his species, 

 eating even such parts of the wing-cases and skeleton that were not too hard for hia 

 jaws to crush. — D. Sharp, Thornhill : February 14th, 1883. 



Coleoptera in 1882 in the Hastings district. — Last year was a very peculiar 

 season : many insects that were tolerably plentiful in 1881, were barely represented ; 

 circumstances prevented me from doing much hot-bed collecting, and what I did 

 was chiefly in May. The best things obtained in this way were Magdalinus barbi- 

 cornis, $ , a single specimen only ; Monotonia longicollis and 4-collis ; aiew Clambus 

 armadillo and C. pubescens ; Sister bimactilatus ; Euplecttis sangiiiiievs and E. 

 signatus ; Microglossa suturalis. 



G-uestling sand-pit has yielded very little this past season, the best captures by 

 far were two specimens of Trickonyx Marlceli, found about May 27th. Zabrus 

 gihbus and Plinthus caliginosus also put in an appearance. I also found Ccenopsis 

 Waltoni, a good many Syntomium aneuni and Syncalypta spinosa. In a sand-pit at 

 Battle I found a Philonthits, with red elytra, which the Eev. H. S. Gorham has 

 kindly determined as a variety of P.fumigatus. At the Powder Mill Ponds, Battle, 

 Donacia semicuprea swarmed : D. impressa and one D. sagittarice occurred. 



At Camber, on June 12th, Crypticus quixquilius and Microzoum tibials were 

 plentiful. Saprinus rugifrons, metallicus, and maritimvs were found, the two former 

 crawling on the bare sand, the latter in carrion ; a single Sarrotriuni clavicorne 

 appeared, also Phytosus balticus under stones beneath high-water mark, and Aleo- 

 chara obscurella. 



Glaucium roots, growing at Pett and Bopeep, seem to be very productive ; 

 among a host of things hibernating in the cavity at the crown of the root, were 

 Ceuthorhynchus verrucatns, Corticaria cremdata and curfa, both the latter in 

 abundance ; three Syncalypta hirsuta I was not sorry to add to my collection from 

 the same source. The most abundant insect, however, was the Hemipteron Monan- 

 thia cardui. — Edward P. Coliett, St. Leonards-on-Sea : 3rd February, 1883. 



Specific distinctness of Cucujus coccinatus and C. Grouvellii. — There seemed to 

 be some doubt on the continent as to the fact of Cucujus coccinatus, Lewis, Ent. Mo. 

 Mag., xvii, p. 198, from Japan, being distinct from Cucujus Grouvellii, Reitter, from 

 the Himalaya mountains, so last week I sent specimens of the former to M. Eene 

 OberthiJr, who possesses Reitter's type ; and, to-day I received (he following memo 



