92 COLEOPTERA. 



Formica fusca delights in light loamy banks, especially 

 such as have a western aspect, and are thus accessible to the 

 first warm rays of sunshine. Its nests are subterranean, and 

 consist of a succession of cells connected by narrow passages ; 

 the entrance is almost invariably situate beneath a stone : on 

 lifting this carefully, so as not to disturb the adjacent earth, 

 which, should it fall in, would completely thwart the object 

 in view, a sort of vestibule or ante-chamber, varying in size 

 according to the magnitute of the superimposed stone of which 

 it forms the roof, presents itself; the stone having been placed 

 in a cloth or shallow bag, the floor of this chamber must be 

 minutely examined— here it is that Hetcerius sesquicornis, 

 Preyssler (quadratus, Payk., Eric.) occurs, but the ants 

 should be narrowly watched as they retreat, which they 

 invariably do in all haste, to the adjoining cell, for I have 

 more than once taken the beetle from the mouths of its foster 

 parents as it was being borne off to the interior of the nest. 

 The floor of the vestibule being thoroughly searched, the 

 cloth or bag should be opened and the stone taken out and 

 examined, for it is possible that some rarity may have been 

 reposing or promenading on its under surface at the time it 

 was withdrawn. The investigation of the nest is now com- 

 pleted for the day ; let the stone be carefully replaced in pre- 

 cisely the same position it previously occupied, and the col- 

 lector proceed in search of others, treating all with which he 

 meets in the same way. And if after a long day's search, 

 weary and perhaps disappointed at not having found He- 

 tcerius, let him not, I entreat, churlishly destroy the homes 

 of the unoffending ants, and with them all chance of future 

 success — the morrow may prove more propitious; this I can 

 assure him, the simple plan just described is the one I have 

 invariably pursued, vainly day after day for seven years it i 

 true, but at length successfully. 



