RETROSPECT OF A COLEOPTERIST FOR 1907 7 



Life-histories are dealt with in two papers, namely, in Dr. Bailey's 

 note {loc. cit., p. 3) on the occurrence of Uhizophaijus parallelocollis, 

 Er., in buried corpses, and in Mr. Morley's records of his field- 

 observations on the occurrence of coleoptera in vertebrate carrion [loc. 

 cit, p. 45) ; during ten years he had noted 113 species, and of these 

 certain species are not genuine carrion feeders, but were merely 

 sheltering beneath it. 



Questions of sj'nonj'uiy, specific characters, etc., are the main 

 features of three valuable papers. Mr. C. J. Gahan [loc. cit, p. 121), 

 in his paper "On the Elaterid genera Hijpnodius, Steph., and 

 Cryptohypniin, Esch.," showed that the former genus must stand, and 

 that its type is riparius ; he also proved that sabuUcola, Boh., and 

 pulchelUts, L., were perfectly distinct species. Mr. A. J. Chitty {loc. cit., 

 p. 164), in his paper "Notes on the genus Cnjptophaiius, with a table 

 of species," has embodied the results of a careful research into the 

 characters of the species of the genus which occur in this country, and 

 as a result of his work he has been able to prepare a table which will 

 greatly simplify the work of those collectors Avho have hitherto found 

 considerable difficult}' in identifying their captures. I have already 

 myself found the table of much use in revising my own exponents of 

 the genus. I find, however, that I have taken umbratus, Er., fairly 

 commonly in refuse in my own garden, and I do not consider this 

 species is as rare as Mr. Chitty seems to think. The third paper (Knt 

 Rec, vol. xix., p. 77) is by Mr. F. Balfour Browne on " The Specific 

 Characters of Hydroporas incognitas, Shp."; the paper is illustrated 

 by a carefully drawn plate. The author is able to show quite clearly 

 from his dissections and drawings that i)icogniti(s is quite distinct from 

 palustris. 



Mr. Donisthorpe has continued his researches on the inhabitants of 

 ants' nests, and in two papers {loc. cit., pp. 4 and 254) has summarised 

 the results of his work in the field, and of his careful observations with 

 his experimental nests ; the year has been remarkable for the large 

 number of specimens of Lomechtisa atrumosa. P., Avhich have been 

 found at Woking. Mr. Donisthorpe, I may mention, had a most 

 interesting exhibit at the annual soiree of the Royal Society in May 

 last, which attracted much attention ; the success which has crowned 

 Mr. Donisthorpe's patient and laborious investigations in this field of 

 work show how good it would be if every one of our coleopterists were 

 thus to nuip out a field of study for himself, and to abandon the idea 

 that to fill store-boxes or cabinets with rows of neatly-set specimens is 

 the only ambition of an entomologist. 



The Transactions of the Entomological Society of London for 1907 

 are of exceptional interest to the coleopterist, and as Parts iii and iv 

 of 1906 did not appear until January 28rd, 1907, 1 must also deal with 

 them. The first paper in Part iii of 1906 is by Prof. Poulton, on 

 "Predaceous insects and their prey" (p. 323), a most valuable memoir, 

 containing a perfect mine of information. In the table of insects 

 attacked by Asilidae, I find forty species of coleoptera, mostly 

 conspicuous day-fiiers and flower- haunters, and about half of them 

 specially protected ; the records of attacks on coleoptera by predaceous 

 insects of the orders Neuroptera and Hemiptera are too few to allow 

 any conclusions to be drawn, and, strangely enough, there are only eight 

 records in all of attacks by predaceous coleoptera on brethren of their 



