218 [September, 



Byschirius obscurus, Gyll.,at Lough Neagh. — The late A. H. Haliday took this 

 species at Lough Neagh more than forty years ago, and his specimens are now in the 

 Science and Art Museum, Dublin. Since that time no capture of it was recorded 

 80 that Canon Fowler (Brit. Col., toI. i) pointed out that it would probably have to 

 be removed from the British list. In the Ent. Mo. Mag. of January, 1893, Mr. 

 Champion mentioned that he had seen specimens of this species from the collection 

 of the late Dr. Boswell Syme, but they were unfortunately without locality. In the 

 summer of 1893 I captured a single DyscTiirius at Lough Neagh which I submitted 

 to Canon Fowler, but he felt doubtful about it, though inclined to consider it D. 

 obscurus. Last year Mrs. Johnson found two specimens, but though I returned to 

 the spot I could find no more. This year we were more fortunate, and succeeded in 

 taking a good many. I submitted specimens to Dr. Sharp and Mr. Champion, and 

 Mr. G. H. Carpenter kindly compared it with Haliday's specimens in Dublin and 

 also forwarded it to Herr Reitter. All are agreed tliat it is D. obscurus, G-yll., 

 though Dr. Sharp considers that it varies slightly from the continental form. 



I am very glad to have obtained a satisfactory number of this beetle, for I had 

 made so many expeditions for it in vain that I began to think it must be extinct. 

 It is extremely local, and anything but plentiful where it does occur. It was in 

 company with Bledius subterraneus, which was much more numerous than the 

 Dysphirius. — W. F. Johnson, Armagh : August ^st, 1895. 



[Mr. Johnson refers to me as pointing out that D. obscurus would probably 

 have to be removed from the British list : this contingency is of course done away 

 with by the confirmation of Haliday's specimens, apart from Mr. Johnson's re- 

 discovery of the insect; at the same time it must be borne in mind that Dr. Sharp 

 considers that it varies, even though slightly, from the continental form, and in a 

 genus like DyscTiirius, where many of the members are extremely closely allied, 

 slight variations are of great importance in the determination of species. The 

 British members of the genus require careful revision and comparison with authentic 

 continental types, and if possible, with those of the original authors. — W. W. F.]. 



Note on the soaring of Endromis versicolor when alarmed. — I can quite en- 

 dorse the statement made by Mr. C. G. Barrett in his book of " British Lepidoptera " 

 as to the habit of " soaring," when alarmed, sliown by End?-omis versicolor, a habit 

 which my friend Mr. Holland says he has never noticed in this species {vide post 

 page 173). Mr. Holland is so keen and close an observer, and such an excellent 

 field naturalist, tJiat very few habits escape his notice, but that versicolor does soar 

 when it is really alarmed I can most positively assert. My first introduction to this 

 fine rpecies was on April 12th, 1858, at Tilgate Forest, wliere I was in company of the 

 late Mr. Charles Tester, who had two days before captured 119 males attracted by a 

 virgin female. We had the same female out with us that morning, but having been 

 bred several days before, she did not attract very strongly ; the males came up, but 

 were not drawn to the decoy female, they seemed undecided, and generally necessi- 

 tated a chase to capture them. By sharp running I succeeded in capturing two 

 males, and twice that morning, on striking at the moths and brushing them, tliey 

 commenced to soar, and continued this rapid upward flight to such a heiglit that 

 they fairly passed out of view. I was much surprised, and called my companion's 

 attention to this (to me) unusual flight ; but he said it was quite a habit of the 



