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COLLECTING NOTES. 



By Charles Likbeck. 



About I\Iay 5, 1888, while collecting Coleoptera near Westville, 

 N. J., my attention was attracted to a small beetle running actively on 

 the ground, which proved to be a specimen of Mecynotarsus candidus 

 Lee. Casting about for more I succeeded in capturing 8 or 10 spec- 

 imens. This pretty and delicate looking beetle being represented in but 

 one collection in this city, /. e. that of Dr. Horn, my small supply soon 

 became exhausted. This season, on the 4th of May, I again visited the 

 same locality and succeeded, after hunting for about two hours, in 

 taking about 40 specimens. It is exceedingly difficult to find these 

 beetles, as they frequent bare, dry spots, where their uniform color 

 exactly matches that of the ground, which probably accounts for its 

 escaping the notice of collectors. The method 1 have used was to select 

 a bare spot and scoop up about y^ inch deep of the loose surface cover- 

 ing and deposit it upon a piece of stiffs paper two feet square. After 

 waiting a few minutes, one and sometimes two specimens would 

 suddenly dart across the loose earth and just as suddenly stop, usually 

 among a few grains of sand, where it was simply impossible to disting- 

 uish them until they again moved. This insect must be very widely 

 distributed as it occurs from N. J. to Florida and Iowa. On the same 

 day I noticed an unusual carnivorous inclination on the part of a single 

 Hister biplagiaius. It victim was a smooth caterpillar, about i'/^ inch 

 long, which it had seized on top of the second segment, burying its 

 head beneath the skin after the manner of a tick. For fully 15 minutes 

 I watched them, during which lime the unlucky caterpillar's frantic 

 struggles failed to dislodge its assailant, who never once relaxed the grip 

 of its jaws. By this time the caterpillar was covered with the juice ooz- 

 ing from its wound, and having satisfied myself of the intention of the 

 Hister, I consigned them both to the alcohol bottle for future reference. 

 My previous knowledge of the habits of this Hister has been confined to 

 the droppings around pig-pens, where it may possibly feed upon the 

 numerous larvae found in such places. 



A NEW remedy for ridding an infested collection of its undesirable 

 guests was given me at the meedng of the Newark Ent. Soc. , recently, 

 by one of the members. It is the introduction of a specimen or two of 

 the little Cheli/ers, known as paper scorpions. They will, my informant 

 sail!, destroy every living thing in the boxes, but will not harm the dried 

 specimens. 



