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NATURAL LOCALITIES OF BRITISH COLKOPTEKA. 



By Rev. W. W. Fowlek, M.A., F.L.S. 



No. III.— OUR GARDENS AND ROADS. 



Before proceeding farther afield it will be as well to consider 

 what may be found in our own gardens. Of course this will 

 largely depend upon the sort of garden we possess, its soil, 

 situation, &c. ; we may, however, safely say that there is no 

 garden in which rare species may not at one time or other be 

 found. Some rare species, such as Crioceris merdigcm, which is 

 found in lily-flowers, appear to be confined to gardens ; and 

 there are other less rare beetles, such as Crioceris asparagi, 

 Halticce of various species, and others which are more or less 

 attached to cultivated plants, that naturally are found in the spots 

 where the plants are grown. Good series, however, of many 

 species may often be taken close to one's own doors ; last year, 

 for instance, I took Meligethes pedicidarius abundantly, and M. 

 erijthropus occasionally, in the bloom of my strawberry plants. 

 Old trees and stumps in gardens are often very productive. In 

 one garden at Stockwell, some years ago, Mcgapcnthes sangidni- 

 collis, M. lageiis, Eryx atra, and XylopliUus populneiis, all fell in 

 this way to the lot of a fortunate collector. The chief advantage 

 of a garden, however, is the ease and safety with which traps 

 can be set in it. One of the best traps for Coleoptera is a heap 

 of cut grass, which is always forthcoming where there is the 

 smallest piece of lawn. The amount of beetles of all genera to 

 be found in such a heap on a hot day is surprising; and even in 

 winter it is almost always profitable. Philonthi and Homalotce 

 literally swarm; and Oxypodce, Oligotce, Xantholini, Steni, 

 KupUcti, Monotomce, Atomarice, Histerida, Tricliopterygidee, 

 Clamhidce, and many others are almost equally abundant. The 

 cut grass is perhaps more productive if placed round a hot-bed, 

 if there be one in the garden. From no locality, perhaps, can 

 more species be obtained than from a hot-bed, if worked carefully 

 all the year round. I have chiefly worked hot-beds for Trichop- 

 terygidce, and have taken the following from two or three in 

 different localities : — Trichopteryx atomaria, T. lata, T. sericans, 

 T. Montadoni, T. brevis, T. anthracina, T. longula, T. Chevrolati, 

 T. rividaris, Actidium coarctatum, Millidium tris ideation, Nephanes 



