228 [August, 



tages L.) have become almost or quite extinct in most of their haunts ; * 

 and among the Coleoptera such insects as Cicindela campestris L., 

 Lochmaea sutnralis Th.., and Haltica yfenensib Shai-p, siirvive only in 

 the uncultivated patches. Possibly, if the reduction of weeds, too, 

 goes on apace, especially of nettles, the Small Tortoiseshell (Vanessa 

 urticae L.) will also in time become a much prized local rarity. At 

 the same time it is of course evident that the conversion of sheep pastures 

 into cornfields must, of necessity, cause an increase in the numbers of 

 insects that feed on crops, but on the whole, in East Yorkshire, phyto- 

 phagous insects have been badly affected, while carnivorous ones are not 

 touched to the same extent, since there is a greater possible variety in 

 their diet. 



The influence of dock-building in the neighbourhood of Hull is 

 most interesting. Of course, as one would naturally expect, its effects 

 have been largely for evil, since the homes of a number of local species 

 have been destroyed in this way. Nebria livlda F. has been quite 

 cleared out, Bonacia braccata Scop, is going, and if dock-building 

 extends much further east, probably Helopliorus midsanti Eye (which 

 has lately been taken in the district by Mr. T. Stainforth, of Hull) 

 will go also. Certain species, however, especially of Coleoptera and 

 Diptera, seem to have received added advantages from the neighbour- 

 hood of the docks. A considerable amount of refuse always finds its 

 way into the river from the docks, to be thrown up later on the river 

 banks by a tidal eddy, thus providing food and shelter for a great 

 number of insects ; e.g., the only local records for Carpopliihis hemi- 

 pterus L., and C. viutilatvs Er..^^) are from the Huniber bank at Marfleet, 

 in rotten onions thrown up by the tide ; and the best local spots for 

 Bembidium lunatum Duft.,i?. varium, 01., Cercyon littoralis Gryll., and 

 Homalota vestita Gr., are in tidal refuse quite close to the westernmost 

 dock. (It is possible that this is due to the fact that the collector has 

 less space to work over here and that the individuals are more crowded, 

 but I strongly incline to the opinion that the increase is actual and not 

 merely apparent.) Again, when the trawlers return from the fishing 

 grounds the holds are swept out, and quantities of scales and fish offal 

 are thrown on the river-side, thus forming ideal breeding spots for 

 sarcophagous flies and beetles, such as Musca vomitoria L., CreojjhilKS 

 maxUlosus L., Corynetes coerulens De Gr., Necrohiae and Necrophori. 

 Incidentally, the timber docks as usual form good collecting grounds 



* M(lnnnr(jiti, (jdlatiii is still common at several places on the Wolds near Sledniere ; and 

 Coenonympha darus occurs in one or two places on the East Yorkshire moors. - G. T. P. 



(1). I.e. 1903, p. 107. 



