1915.] 329 



Ochthebius poweri Rye .- synonymical note. — A few years ago I had some 

 interesting correspondence with Capt. Sainte Claire Deville, during which I 

 sent him examples of all the then known British species of Helophoridae. With 

 regard to Ochthelins poiveri he made the following observation, which agrees 

 perfectly with the opinion formed by Mr. Champion that 0. poweri is a var. of 

 metalleicens Rosenh. : — " Cette espece se rapproche singnlierement du nietalles- 

 cens Rosenh., et je crois bion qu'elle n'en differe pas specifiquement. Cependant 

 aiicnn de ines exemplaires continentaux n'a. les points des stries aussi profonds 

 que le poweri." 



In the Exchange List recently published the above note was forgotten, and 

 the insect referred to a var. of dentifer Rey, (fvidently in error. — E. A. Nbwbert, 

 13, Oppidans Road, N.W. : November lOth, 1915. 



Pyrorhroa pectinicornis L., at Nethy Bridge. — For several successive years I 

 have found the larvae of this species commonly under the bark of birch stumps 

 in the months of July, August, and September, during summer holiday visits 

 to Nethy Bridge. In the early part of last May I spent a week-end with 

 Mr. J. Black at the village, and on the 8th we made a special excursion to a 

 birch wood to ascertain whether the perfect insect was to be found or, if not, 

 whether pxijjae would be in evidence. The first stump examined jiroduced 

 pupae, and eventually sufficient were obtained to allow of the breeding out of a 

 nice little series of the beetle. The perfect insects began to emerge within a 

 week after the finding of the pupae ; unfortunately the first two or three 

 which emerged proceeded to attack and destroy some of the pupae in the same 

 breeding box, so reducing my series. The red colour of this species is not 

 nearly so bright as it is in the two other British forms ; the insects, which are 

 milk-white on emergence from the pupa skin, require to be kept alive for some 

 time in a cage where they can run and fly aboiit freely, in order to allow them 

 to colour up properly. — T. Hudson Beare, 10, Regent Terrace : Nov. 15th, 1915. 



Attagenus fusrus 01. {^= A.megatoma F.) in England. — During a recent visit 

 to Manchester, Mr. J. Ray Hardy gave me some specimens of a beetle which I 

 named tentatively as above, and Mr. Champion, who has kindly examined the 

 species, confirms the naming. Mr. Hardy has received specimens from mills at 

 Manchester, Liverpool, Oldham and Reddish , and it seems to affect pieces of old 

 oily waste, such as are often used for stopping draught holes. The only other 

 recorded occurrence in Britain, as far as I can ascertain, is the single specimen 

 taken in Finsbury Circus, E.C., by Mr. WoUaston (Ent. Mo. Mag., V, p. 101).— 

 J. R. LE B. ToMLiN, Liikefoot, Reading : November loth, 1915. 



The spread of Criocephalus ferus Kr. — As ilKistrating this, I may mention 

 having had two or three specimens brought me to name this summer — all picked 

 up in Reading. The last one was found crawling up the wall of a house as 

 recently as the second week in October. I also received a specimen from Pyrford 

 Heath, Sm-rey, at the end of July. — J. R. le B. Tomlin. 



