.68 THE KNIOMOLOGIST. 



A ploughed field also frequently contains a great number of 

 beetles. Turn over all the large loose clods of earth round the 

 edges of the field ; it is curious that only very seldom is anything 

 found under the clods towards the centre. Hosts of Staphylinida 

 and others are thus brought to light. 



In many counties that contain large rivers, floods are not 

 infrequent, and after a heavy flood has just begun to subside is 

 a great day for the beetle-hunter. By means of the water 

 Coleoptera of every family are flooded from their homes, where- 

 ever they may be, and so specimens of each order may be 

 caught. Many species, too, are night-flyers only, and therefore 

 would be almost impossible to capture were it not for this and 

 " light." In the corners of fields by the hedges, and where there 

 is no current of wind, quantities of vegetation, sticks, old leaves, 

 and the like, will collect : these are the places where the spoils 

 chiefly lie. This refuse may either be examined on the spot, or, 

 better still, taken home, like moss, and examined at leisure. 



Another very productive locality, and one that appears to be 

 very little known and hunted, is the remains of hay, dust, seeds, 

 &c., which are left after the haystack itself has been removed. 

 This, like everything else in beetle-hunting, must be well and 

 closely examined, and not only turned roughly over and then left. 



All animal and garden-refuse, too, contains its own peculiar 

 genera of Coleoptera, which will be found here and nowhere else ; 

 and, if the collector desires to have series of these, he must seek 

 them in their rather disagreeable haunts. A good and easy way 

 of obtaining them, is to plunge the refuse into water and stir it 

 about ; the beetles will all rise to the surface, and can then be 

 captured without trouble. 



An unfailing attraction to all the Necrophaga is a dead 

 animal, bird, or fish. 



A great prize is a fine rook or hen some time deceased, and 

 beginning to smell unpleasantly strong. They deserve to be 

 overhauled, and to have their locality marked with as great joy 

 as the Necrophorus himself. Having discovered one of these 

 tempting baits, lift it carefully up by a leg (or get a friend to do 

 so !), and examine the ground whereon it Liy. Then spread a 

 cloth or large sheet of white paper on the ground, tap the bait 

 sharply with a stick, and the collector ought to be amply rewarded 

 for his unsavoury task. Dead animals should be visited, if 



