NOTES, CAPTURES, ETC. 185 



specimens, when I found they were a species of ant hitherto 

 unrecorded in this countr3\ Tapinoma mclanocephalum was first 

 described by Forel from Cayenne, then from the Tonga Islands, 

 and latterly from Bahia and St. Thomas. Forel also found it on 

 board of one of the West-Indian mail-steamers. It has also been 

 found in India, Oceania, and Tropical America ; but this is its first 

 recorded capture in Europe. This brings the number up to seven 

 species of exotic ants found in Kew Gardens by Messrs. Smith, 

 Saunders, and myself. — T. E. Billups ; 20, Swiss Villas, Cople- 

 stone Road, Peckham, S.E. 



Notes on Coleoptera. — A cold wind and cloudy sky are 

 not greatly to be desired when one is looking forward to a 

 pleasant day's collecting ; and the morning of May 80th was 

 about as cheerless as possibly could be when I started for 

 Waterloo Station to meet Mr. Cripps, whence we proceeded by 

 train to Surbiton, thence walking through the fields to Claygate, 

 Oxshott, and Esher. The foliage generally was wet, and beating 

 out of the question ; sweeping and searching being the order of 

 the day. For some little time our net proceeds were comparatively 

 nothing ; but as the weather brightened matters improved. The 

 first captures were made at a felled tree, — two nice specimens of the 

 scarce Hypulus quercinus located under loose bark. Some vigorous 

 sweeping resulted in a few Prasocuris aiieta, three Cneorhinus 

 exaratus, two Tanymecus palliatus, a stray Lehia chlorocephala, 

 one Grypid'ms equiseti, two Orobitis c?/flnews (a very singular-looking 

 beetle, with legs folded up and rostrum bent over, it bears a 

 strong resemblance to a black seed — I almost discarded it as 

 such) : other captures were Alophus triguttatus, Ceuthorhynchiis 

 campestris, Balaninus glandium, &c. CeiUhorhynchideus troglo- 

 dytes occurred commonly, but not so profusely as in former 

 years. Larvse of the lepidopteron, Ino statices, were numerous on 

 sorrel ; many apparently full-fed, but others still very small. I 

 captured Anthicus anthei'inus in the pathway leading through 

 the covers at Claygate ; this was an interesting capture, as, 

 though the insect is plentiful enough at Bainham, Essex, 

 hitherto I had not taken it in the Esher district. During 

 the afternoon Mr. Newbery came over, and we continued our 

 researches on the heathy portions, beating oak, birch, and pine; 

 obtaining therefrom Coeliodes rubicundus, C. quercus, RJiynchitcs 

 hetulce, Orchestes sallcis, &c. The pits were unproductive, being 



ENTOM. — JULY, 1887. 2b 



