1867.1 83 
Among other Oeodepliaga I found Tarus vaporarionoyn, but not very commonly ; 
it was, I fancy, rather early for that insect. Leistus rufescens was in groat 
abundance, and I captured two specimens of Carahus arvensis. It may jJossibly be 
worth mentioning that it appears of little use to search for Qeodephaga until near 
the summit of these hills, and then only where there is plenty of heather ; — at 
least, that was my experience. — T. Vauguan Egberts, 15, Neville Street, Onslow 
Gardens, July Mth, 1867. 
Coleoptera taken in Coomhe Wood.— The frequent specification of " Coombe 
Wood " as a locality for rare insects of all orders in the writings of entomological 
authors of the past generation has invested that place with the sanctity of an 
insect paradise in the minds of most present collectors. Still, of late years, it has 
been but little — if at all — worked j owing, perhaps, to the strictness with which 
it is preserved for shooting purposes by the Duke of Cambridge, — from whose 
agent (Mr. Glutton, of Whitehall Place), however, it is possible to obtain a ticket 
of admission in pursuit of insects ; without which ticket the collector is sure to be 
refused entry, or to be summarily ejected if he do get in on the sly. 
Eumours of the wood being destined to annihilation by railway cuttings, and 
of its being sold for building purposes, have lately been circulated ; but, as I am 
informed by the Rev. W. Cockerell, who lives at its entrance, these reports are void 
of truth. It would, indeed, be a great pity if the slow process of absorption now 
being undergone by Wimbledon Common should extend to this (to us) classical 
spot. Well do I remember my joy, when, wandering to the wood in my earliest 
entomological days, after a due apprenticeship to Pieris hrassiccs, Eristalis tenax, 
and Harpalus ceneus, such insects as Gonepteryiv, Anthocaris cardamines, Argynnis 
Ewphrosyne, Strangalia armata, and the broad blue-bodied male of Libellula depressa 
swanned before my astonished eyes, — a tropical sight ! Here, also, an enthusiastic 
rural policeman told me he had seen the "Clouded Yaller" (sic). Him I dis- 
believed, not having sufficient faith : nevertheless he was right, in all probability; 
for I have myself taken Edusa not uncommonly in a meadow on the skirts of the 
wood in later years, near the little stream, in which I have found the running- 
water Agabi (maculatus, didymus, &c.) and Rydropori {elegans, he.) plentifully, with 
Ealiplus fiuviatilis commonly, amongst others. 
In the past few years, and originally excited by my friend, the Eev. H. S. 
Gorham, taking Tetratoma Desmarestii at the wood, I have occasionally strolled 
there after beetles. These, however (with some few exceptions), I have seldom 
found abundant ; a circumstance possibly owing to the great number of pheasants 
contained in it, which must make great havoc among the insects generally. Neither 
have I found anything particularly valuable ; though on the whole the place 
generally repays a visit. 
On the posts at the entrance I have picked up Melasis huprestoides (scarcely 
crediting my eyes the while), Cerylon histeroides, Cis villosulus and hispidus, 
Pogonocheriis, Liopus, Clytus, Toxotus, &c. ; and, under their scanty patches of dry 
bark, Lmmoplilmus duplicatus, Omalium iopterum, &c. Prom dead cats, shot by 
gamekeepers, and " sus. per coll." on trees at the foot of the hill running up the 
wood (on which hill Prionus has ere this, in its lumbering flight, been taken by 
