250 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



The species of Dermestes are also, -^lore especially in the 

 larval state, necrophagous ; the beetles themselves may be found 

 in dry dead animals, as also in skins, as their name implies. 

 Stephens (Illust. iii. 123) records the capture of a considerable 

 number of specimens of Dermestes tcssellatus, both in the larva 

 and imago states, in an oyster on the beach off Shoreham, in 

 Sussex ; he also mentions the fact of having seen many ship-loads 

 of hides from Brazil infested with D. vulpinus, which he concludes 

 not to be an indigenous species. 



The Trogidce are fond of old horns, and may be found in 

 abundance among them, together with Omosita, and other kin- 

 dred species ; they are also found in dead animals. Trox hispi- 

 clus is extremely rare ; T. sahulosus is not uncommon in some 

 localities ; T. scaber is the commonest species, and it appears to 

 be occasionally found in decaying wood, as well as in its usual 

 habitats. 



Carahidce, and species of other genera that are not truly 

 necrophagous, are often found with the beetles above mentioned, 

 perhaps attracted by the abundance of their living prey, but 

 apparently themselves too ready to take part in the feast ; it 

 well known how freely large Carahidce come to sugar, so that 

 it is evident that they are not discriminating in their tastes. 



The School House, Lincolu, October 16, 1882. 



THE MACRO-LEPIDOPTERA OF THE ISLAND OF ARRAN. 

 By J. Jknner Weir, F.L.S., F.Z.S. 



From the latter end of April till the middle of August Mr. 

 M'Arthur was this year collecting Lepidoptera in the Island of 

 Arran ; and as he has kindly permitted me to inspect the 

 captures thus made, I am able to offer some observations on the 

 Macro-Lepidoptera of this hitherto little-known island. 



The geology of the island is very varied, more so than any 

 other part of the British isles of equal extent ; but as I am 

 not able to ascertain on which particular formation the insects 

 were captured, that part of the subject must be left undealt with. 



The following butterflies were seen or taken, viz. : — 



