NATURAL LOCALITIES OF BRITISH COLEOPTERA. 249 



dung. I once took the rare Saprinns immnndns in some numbers 

 near Hunstanton, Norfolk, and with it S. metaUicns and *S'. mnri- 

 timus ; SapriuKs virescens has been recorded from Swansea. The 

 Histcrs i^roper are found sometimes in dung, sometimes in dead 

 birds and animals, and sometimes in fungi ; one or two, such as 

 Tlister bimaculatus and //. 12-striatus, seem usually to occur in 

 hot-beds ; some of the Histeridce are rotten-wood feeders, while 

 one or two are parasitic in ants' nests ; so they are rather a 

 ubiquitous family. Some of the larger species may almost 

 always be found under dead birds, especially in woods. A game- 

 keeper's-tree, with vermin nailed to it, in a wood, is said by 

 Mr. Eye to be the luckiest thing to find ; out of a dead hedgehog 

 suspended to a bush I one day beat quite a hail of Choleva 

 fumata and Homalia. 



I have, however, found birds on the ground most productive, 

 especially a dead rook in the spring, if placed in a hole under 

 trees and covered lightly with moss and grass ; such a trap will 

 last for weeks, and quite set up one's collection, especially as a 

 beginner, with Cholevce, PUilonthi, Aleocharce, Atomarue, Niti- 

 dulidce, and many other species. Tachini are best obtained in 

 this way ; one of the few specimens of Tachimis riijipenms 

 recorded as British was taken from a dead grouse on Kettlewell 

 Moor, Yorkshire ; and a great number of very good species have 

 thus been obtained on the Scotch moors. 



It is as well to remember that species of the genus Necro- 

 phorus should be collected from birds and small animals, and not 

 from larger subjects, as, if so collected, they have no perceptible 

 odour, if well-dried ; as the species are almost all common, this 

 note is worth observing : with Histers and smaller beetles it 

 makes no difference. 



Dry fish thrown up upon the shore, above high-water mark, 

 should not be passed over; many good beetles, especially 

 AlcocJiara, are found under them. CreophUus maxillosus is alwa3^s 

 abundant in such localities, and the variety ciliaris is well worth 

 looking for. 



The species of the genus Sili)ha are to be found in all places 

 where there is high game to attract them ; with the exception of 

 S. dispar and S. reticidata, they are not uncommon. The rare 

 Splueritcs glahratus is found near Kannoch in dry dead animals, 

 and in dung. 



2k 



