NATURAL LOCALITIES OF BRITISH CoLP^OPTERA. 177 



Tachyusce, Deleaster, and good species of Phllonthus and Homa- 

 lota; the very rare Acrognatlius mandibularis is found near 

 London amidst the rotten leaves on the very edge of stagnant 

 ponds, half in and half out of the water. 



On a warm day many good species will be found on plants 

 growing out of the water ; if these be struck sharply the insects 

 will fall into the water, and may be picked out at leisure. The 

 rare Oxytelus fulvipes has been taken in some numbers in this 

 way in Needwood Forest, near Burton-on-Trent ; Galeruca, 

 Phytobii, Bagoi, and others may also be obtained in the same way, 

 although the latter and also Phytohius leucogaster are to be found 

 in greater abundance by pulling up the plants bodily and shaking 

 them over a sheet, as the beetles live submerged for a long time. 



The stems of Typha latlfolia, especially in winter, contain 

 numerous species : in company with Mr, Blatch, who kindlv 

 shewed me the locality, I found Baris T-album, Anchomenus 

 puellus, and others in Sutton Park, near Birmingham, and he has 

 himself taken other much better species in the same place. 



One of the most favourite localities with the London collectors 

 is, or rather used to be. Hammersmith marshes : very rare beetles 

 have been found there in some numbers. We must however pass 

 on now to the consideration of the fen districts proper, which 

 come in naturally in this connection. 



Entomologists know well what a number of peculiar species 

 of Lepidoi^tera the fens produce, and the Coleoptera are quite as 

 peculiar, and will well repay any collector who may work them : 

 the onl}^ Coleopterist who ever did veiy much work in the fens 

 was Mr. Crotch, and I am indebted for many hints in this paper 

 to Mr. Matthews, who once or twice accompanied Mr. Crotch in 

 his expeditions. 



We may divide the fen districts into three, the Lincolnshire 

 fens, the Norfolk fens, and the Cambridgeshire 'fens : the former 

 of these has been so much drained that it is the least profitable 

 of the three, and it is the last that is the most productive, 

 although a great number of good species occur in Norfolk in the 

 neighbourhood of the well-known Broads. 



In the fen districts it is customary to cut the sedge and reeds 

 in large quantities, and carry it up the rivers in sedge boats, as 

 they are called ; if a collector will furnish himself with a sheet, 

 and persuade the boatmen, which only requires a small fee, to 



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