18<J5.] 181 



surface for oviposition. In several cases these incrusted females 

 had attendant males attached per col., but perfectly unsoiled. The 

 mud was a white marly clay, and very deep, as I found to my cost. 

 That the habit is not general with this very common species is certain, 

 for I had never observed it before. It is a provision of Nature in 

 exceptional localities and weather ; even although the surface water 

 be entirely dried up, and the surface of the mud itself be partially 

 baked, there remains sufficient moisture beneath to maintain the 

 vitality of the eggs (and probably of young larvje also) until the 

 recurrence of rain turns the dry ditch into the normal watercourse. 



Lewisliam, London : 



June 6th, 1895. 



OCHTHEBIUS LE JO LIST, MULS. & REY, AN ADDITION TO THE 



BRITISH LIST. 



BY W. H. BENNETT. 



While collecting near Ilfracombe in June I took an Ochthchius 

 which was quite new to me; it proved to be Lejolisi, Muls. & Rev, 

 and I have much pleasui-e in recording it as an addition to our list. 

 It may be at once known from all our other species by having the 

 whole of the lateral margin of the elytra toothed, saw-like. The body is 

 narrow, with the surface of the elytra rasp-like. The thorax is rugose, 

 with rather indistinct impressions, and a faintly marked channel on the 

 median line. The penultimate joint of the maxillary palpi is strongly 

 inflated. Bedel (Faune Col. du Bassin de la Seine, i, p. 317) says of 

 its habitat on the continent, " In small pools of salt water on rocks 

 on the coast, rare." It has apparently only been recorded from 

 Cherbourg, the coast of Provence, and (doubtfully) Algeria. 



I found the insect in some numbers in small pools of very stale 

 and putrid salt water, just above the usual high-water mark at the base 

 of the cliffs, but evidently not beyond the reach of spring tides, for 

 when I visited the locality the day before I left the district the pools 

 had been refilled with fresh sea water. I noticed on this occasion the 

 Ochthehii were much more active than they weye on pi'evious visits. 

 They appeared to be confined to a very limited area, and although I 

 searched carefully at a great many points on the coast I never saw a 

 specimen at any other place. Mr. Champion has very kindly compared 

 the insect with a specimen from Cherbourg, and tells me there is no 

 doubt about the determination. 



15, Wellington Place, Hastings : 

 July nth, 1895. 



