914 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 
Geometers, and Stawropus fagi, off oak and other trees; Noto- 
donta camelina, N. carmelita, N. dictea, N. dicteoides, N. drome- 
darius, N. ziczac, and many Noctue off the oak and birch. 
Little difficulty may be feared from interference from the 
proprietors. But should that occur there is plenty of work to 
engage us on the paths through the wood, and in the neighbouring 
lanes, especially towards Greenhithe. Altogether Darn may 
be set down as one of the best woods for Lepidoptera in the 
London district. Many have been the rarities taken there, and I 
hope many more may still be taken. I have to thank Mr. Farn 
for much information about Darenth. 
Royal Aquarium, Westminster, S.W., August, 1879. 
NOTES ON SPERCHEUS EMARGINATUS, &c. 
By Vincent R. Prrxins. 
Tuts rare insect has been added to my collection through the 
kindness of my friend, Mr. T. R. Billups. During the few fitful 
gleams of sunlight which have penetrated through the aqueous 
clouds so very prevalent this season—I will not call it summer— 
he has taken several opportunities of visiting and examining the 
ditches and ponds in the eastern or south-eastern districts of 
London for aquatic Coleoptera and other insects therein con- 
tained. I have to thank him not only for this insect but also for 
other Coleoptera which I had not met with, as well as for a fund 
of information relative to the habits of these insects, which is 
certainly very interesting. 
This Spercheus is, I imagine, in very few collections, and some 
coleopterists say it has not been met with for many years—for a 
period so long that it has been reckoned among the things that 
no longer occur in this country. Many collectors had given up 
all hope of meeting with it, and have omitted it from their 
desiderata, leaving no vacancy for it in their cabinet. It turned 
up, however, as most other varieties do, in a most unexpected 
manner. One day last season a small ditch, which had been cut 
for the purpose of irrigation, after a heavy thunderstorm, became 
full to overflowing, and Mr. Billups, looking on the escaping 
water, saw two or three of these beetles floating along on their 
backs, and fished them out. These he took and showed to his 
friend, Mr. Champion, who at once pronounced them to be the 
