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COLLECTING NOTES. 
By CuHarves LIEBECK. 
About May 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 
Lec. 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, z 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 I have used was to select 
a bare spot and scoop up about ’/, inch deep of the loose surface cover- 
ing and deposit it upon a piece of stiff 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 biplagiatus. It victim was a smooth caterpillar, about 1'/, inch 
long, which it had seized on top of the second segment, burying its 
head beneath the skin after the manner ofa tick. For fully 15 minutes 
I watched them, during which time 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, | consigned them both to the alcohol bottle for future reference. 
My previous knowledge of the habits of this As/er has been confined to 
the droppings around pig-pens, where it may possibly feed upon the 
numerous larvz found in such places. 
eo SS 
A NEw remedy for ridding an infested collection of its undesirable 
guests was given me at the meeting of the Newark Ent. Soc., recently, 
by one of the members. It is the introduction of a specimen or two of 
the little Chejfers, known as paper scorpions. They will, my informant 
said, destroy every living thing in the boxes, but will not harm the dried 
specimens. 
