1867.] 165 



fvmgorum, lurking under the bark of the topmost branches, at a great height ; and 

 another example in grass at the roots of a neighbouring tree. The solid wood of 

 this beech-tree was much drilled in many places by Tomicus Saxesenii, which I 

 occasionally found alive and perfect, crawling on the surface, but more often dead 

 and decayed under the bark or in the mouths of its burrows. Its drill-holes are 

 very small and neatly cut. Decayed bark of the same tree swarmed with Myce- 

 topJiagus multipunctatus ; and I also saw many (but caught few) of Ptinella 

 denticolUs under similar circumstances. PhlcBopora reptans, Rhinosvmus ruficollis, 

 Homalota cuspidata, Omalium vile (much varying), Quedius cnientus (with its 

 variety with elytra dark, all but the suture), and such species of minor importance, 

 constantly occurred. 



Under bark of another tree, in Wimbledon Park, so long ago dead as to be undis- 

 tinguishable by me specifically, I found one Lcemophlceiis himaculatus, more Tomicus 

 Saxessnii, Phlmopora, Ischnoglossa corticaUs, the yellow var. of RhizopJiagus hipustu- 

 latus, apparently quite mature, and mixed with full-coloured examples, Ev/plectus 

 Ka/rstenii, Omalium iopterum (also in dead leaves) , and, — a strange tenant, — Ocypus 

 ater, usually found under chalk at the sea-side. I have twice, and in localities at 

 some distance from each other, found this species here under similar conditions. 

 I have found the common 0. morio and 0. compressus also here, in their usual 

 habitat ; and one fine example of the (southernly) rare 0. fuscatus, in " Judas' ear" 

 fungus on a felled elm, accompanied by the commoner Scaphisoma. 



Siftiug refuse at the bottom of a hay-stack close to my small garden has pro- 

 duced Stilicus geniculatus, accompanied by two of its commoner brethren, in some 

 numbers; also Cryptophagus hadius, C. affinis (not uncommonly), and the pallid 

 form of C. scanicus, a puzzler to beginners ; Aphodius porcatus ; Philonthus debilis 

 (common), and P. hipustulatus (with a curious and apparently hitherto unrecorded 

 variety, in which the red spots behind the middle are absent, but replaced by a 

 distinct reddish hinder margin to each elytron ; — the insect being quite distinct 

 from P. agilis) ; Quedius humeralis, Heterothops dissimilis, Haploglossa, prcBtexta ; 

 Scydmcenus hirticollis, with the three apical joints of its antennae equally anchylosed 

 on each side, simulating an abrupt clava, and exciting wild hopes when seen 

 crawling over the paper by the naked eye ; Onthophilus, Corylophus, myriads of 

 Lathidius ruficollis, and divers Conuri, Steni, OxypodcB and Tachini, "quos nunc 

 enumerare longum est." 



Similar working at leaves, twigs, and cut grass on my own premises afforded 

 nae a male of the very rare Hovmlota ohlita, H. pagana (of which I also found several 

 specimens at the root of a willow near the river), divisa, occulta, clientula, amicula, 

 palustris, aterrima, &c. ; Atomaria fuscipes, Tachyporus scitulus, Megarthrus, Micro- 

 peplus, &c. 



I also found Zeugophora and Rhynchites populi on young aspens — both unusual 

 autumnal sights ; and " fluked " Gracilia, Leucoparyphus, Crioceris asparagi and 

 Sitophilus oryzcB in my house ; Elmis Volkmari, crawling on the canvass of my 

 sculling-boat, and reminding me of former work in Scotland ; and StaphyUrms 

 stercorarius, on the wing, in Putney Station. 



On barking trees by the river I bottled Crepidodera Chloris, which apparently 

 abounds, and some very curious, dark, elongate forms of Cryptophagus dentatus, 

 sufficiently puzzling. I was pleased to see again an old Hymenopterous friend of 

 mine, the Siriciform Xyphidria, perforating one or two willows on the bank. — 

 E. C. Rye, 7, Park Field, Putney, S.W., November, 1867. 



