1881.] 235 



though we have never seen it at Hastings. From Eastbourne Miss R. M. Sotheby 

 sent me a specimen of Rhacognathus punctatus, and I received Coranus subapterus 

 from Deal. — E. A. Butler, University Lower School, Hastings : Feb. \Uh, 1881. 



Notes on Coleoptera in the Isle of Wight. — Last spring, during a few days' stay 

 at Yentnor, I obtained a good many specimens of Lithocharis maritima (first re- 

 corded as British from this locality by Mr. G-uyon). I found the first specimen by 

 accident, while searching for Limnceum nigropiceum which was fah'ly plentiful. At 

 first I took the Lithocharis very sparingly, but afterwards, on acquiring a knowledge 

 of its habits, I succeeded on one occasion in getting about two dozen in less than an 

 hour. Philonthus xantholoma swarmed in the same locality, a considerable number 

 of the var. variolosus with abnormally developed heads being among them. 

 Philonthus fucicola was to be got, but sparingly, and also Philonthus serieeus, and 

 Homalota vestita, plumbea, and puncticeps. 



Dianous and Stenus guttula can always be found under the moss in the stream 

 that runs down to the beach a little to the west of the town. I failed, however, to 

 find Trechus lapidosus under the stones near the same place, though I secured a few 

 there two years before. 



At Sandown I found several Harpalus parallelus, and other common Harpali 

 (such as rotundicollis, rubripes, &c.) in abundance ; also Ceuthorhynchus rugulosus, 

 Ceuthorhynchideus Dawsoni, and Apion confluens (the latter in profusion, always in 

 company with Olibrus ceneus) on and at the roots of plants growing in the sand. 



I tried Black Gang Chine one day, but failed to get any beetles worth mention- 

 ing except Apion striatum and Philorhinum humile, both in abundance, off furze. 



There was a bitter east wind blowing all the time I was in the Island, 

 which rendered sweeping and beating out of the question, except in unusually 

 sheltered spots. — W. W. Fowler, Lincoln : February 2nd, 1881. 



Colorado Beetles in Devonshire. — In the House of Commons, on the 11th inst., 

 Mr. Borlase asked the Secretary of State for the House Department whether his 

 attention had been called to the evidence adduced at the Yealmpton Police-court, 

 with regard to the discovery of Colorado beetles in South Devon ; and Mr. Mundella 

 said he had been requested to answer this question, Colorado beetles being in his 

 department. The history of the case referred to was as follows : — On the 5th inst. 

 the deputy chief constable of Devon telegraphed to tbe clerk of the Council that a man 

 near Plymouth was in possession of some live Colorado beetles, which he refused to 

 give up, that there was no power to apprehend, and asked for instructions. A 

 telegraphic reply was immediately sent to the effect that the Destructive Insects' 

 Act of 1877, and the order passed under that Act, provided for the imposition of 

 penalties in such cases. Copies of the Act and order were forwarded to him by that 

 night's post. On the 7th inst. the Home Office sent us a letter from the clerk of 

 the justices of the Petty Sessions Division on the subject. We gave him the same 

 information as was given to the deputy chief constable. On the 10th inst. we 

 received an intimation that the defendant had been convicted and fined £5, the 

 maximum penalty of £10 having been mitigated, as he pleaded ignorance of the 

 law, and proved that the beetles had been destroyed. 



[From the " Grardeners' Chronicle " for February 19th, 1881. We understand 



