1906. 115 



The late C. W. Dale's Collections. — In view of the practice, pursued for a long 

 period, by the late Mr. C. W. Dale, of substituting modern specimens in good con- 

 dition for old and damaged, it should be remembered that he kept a careful register 

 of dates and localities corresponding with the labels of the specimens in his cabinets, 

 by reference to which the old can often be distinguished from the new, and the 

 specimens authentically named by old authors (correspondents of his father) may 

 sometimes be identified. Regard should also be had to the make of the pins of 

 specimens. He relied upon comparison with specimens and illustrations in forming 

 his own conclusions about species, using hand-lenses that were hardly of sufficient 

 power to guide him in all cases to correct decisions ; and he professed himself to 

 be by no means facile at identifying insects by means of only written description. — 

 A. E. Eaton, Pentlands, Mill Road, West Worthing : March, 1906. 



Trigonogenius globulum at Tottenham. — I have had in my possession for some 

 time a specimen of Trigonogenius globulum which I had not been able to name 

 until the other day, when I saw an example in a collection of Coleoptera in the 

 St. Albans' Museum. It was taken by a friend (who is not an Entomologist) in an 

 old house at Tottenham in July, 1903.— C. T. G-ieninghabi, Harpenden, Herts : 

 March Ibth, 1906. 



Microglossa marginalis and other birds' nest beetles in Kent. — Coleopterists 

 ought to be extremely grateful to Dr. Joy for his discovery of the habitat of 

 Fhilonthus fuscus, Gr., Choleva colonoides, Kr., and Microglossa marginalis, Gyll. 

 I had been intending to search for these insects for a long time in this district, but 

 did not know how to begin or where to find the nests. The other day I got 

 information that starlings built in the orchard adjoining my garden. A suitable 

 hole in an apple tree which contained a nest was soon found by Mr. Donisthorpe 

 and myself, and a careful sifting of the debris at once produced all three species. 

 I expect that wherever there are apple trees with holes in them in which starlings 

 build the insects will be found ; but it is no easy job to find suitable spots, and 

 a ladder to reach the holes, and a small boy to get out the old nests and debris 

 (through a hole generally too small to admit a man's hand) would seem useful if 

 not absolutely necessary adjuncts to this form of collecting. Coleopterists must be 

 prepared for disappointments ; but he is more likely to be disappointed in not finding 

 suitable holes with nests in them than in not finding the beetles if a nest and 

 debris are secured and properly sifted at home. — Aethur J. Chitty, Huntingfield, 

 Faversham, Kent : April lOth, 1906. 



The host of Nomada soiidaginis. — With reference to Mr. Frisby's useful note 

 on the above I think it ought not to be assumed that Nomada soiidaginis has only 

 one host. In this district I do not see how Andrena fuscipes can be the host, 

 though I cannot state what the host is. The Nomada was not uncommon in 1902, 

 when it occurred with N. Jacobseas and N. fucata. I had taken a specimen or so in 

 previous years, but during all the years in which I have known the district I have 

 never seen or heard of Andrena fuscipes, nor is there any Erica or Calluna near the 



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