334 MISCELLANEA. 



XXVIII. — Miscellaneous Notices and Ohservations. 



Capture of Staphylinus stercorarius amongst Ants. — I have this 

 year (1860) taken StapTiylinus stercorarius in the nests of Myrmica 

 loevinodis. This Myrmica is exceedingly abundant near the large 

 ballast heap at South Shields, and forms its nests beneath 

 stones. In these nests, or in their immediate vicinity, the 

 Stapliylinus is to be found in August and September. The 

 presence of Coleopterous insects in ants' nests is a curious cir- 

 cumstance, and one which, I think, still requires elucidation. 

 In the present case it is probable — although I could not certainly 

 determine — that they feed upon the inmates of the nest, for of 

 fourteen specimens taken seven are imperfect, but only in a 

 slight degree; wanting a few joints of an antenna, a claw, or a 

 joint or two of a tarsus, seldom a whole foot. Does not this 

 condition rather infer that they suffer these slight mutilations in 

 battling with the ants, which, in self-defence, would be likely 

 enough to seize their enemies by these their only vulnerable 

 parts ? That other species so treat intruders, I was once an eye- 

 witness. In turning over a stone, beneath which was a nest of 

 Formica fusca^ I disturbed a pair of Platysma niger, one of which, 

 to escape me, ran amongst the ants. However, this was " out 

 of the frying-pan into the fire," for the ants rushed upon him 

 from all sides, like little bull dogs, and he disappeared in the 

 adjoining herbage, with a crowd of them dangling at his legs 

 and antennas. — Thos. Jno. Bold. — Long Benton^ Oct. 23, 1860. 



Capture of Ocypus ater on the Banks of the Wanshech. — I have 

 this season (1860) found Ocypus ater in some abundance on the 

 banks of the Wansbeck. Starting from Sheepwash, I examined 

 the north bank of the river down to the sea, finding, amongst 

 other things, this conspicuous insect. It began to occur about 

 half a mile above the railway viaduct at North Seaton, and all 

 the way down to Cambois, not occurring, however, on the sea- 

 coast. It lives beneath stones and amongst rejectamenta., near 

 high-water mark. The time was near the middle of September. 

 Previous to this only two specimens, to my knowledge, had 



