NOTES ON ORTHOPTERA. 



T. Fountain (ante, p. 303), which treatment, to my mind, is 

 far the most quick and satisfactor3\ Benzole is also used in 

 museums with some success. 



The preparation of larvse by the method of inflation is far 

 from proving satisfactory, either in the retention of shape or 

 colour. Of the process suggested by Mr. Cattle I have had no 

 experience, but it strikes one as being feasible. Spirits of wine 

 would, no doubt, be better than turpentine, which would affect 

 some colourings in hairs ; but the experiment will have to be 

 tested before anything definite can be said upon the subject, 

 although, doubtless, some professors may have already tried both 

 methods, and will give us information upon the results. 



Colyford, Devon, Nov. 4tb, 1895. 



NOTES ON ORTHOPTERA. 

 By C. W. Dale, F.E.S. 



Forficula puhescens, Gene. — This earwig may be easily known 

 from the common one by the wings being abortive. It occurs 

 chiefly among reeds on the south coast, the localities being 

 Bonchurch, Weymouth, Charm'^uth, Scilly Isles, and probably 

 intervening places if searched for. It was first taken by my 

 father on Sept. 28th, 1837. That it is not entirely confined to 

 the coast may be seen from the fact that one was taken at 

 Salisbury by Curtis, and a couple have been taken in my garden 

 at Glanvilles Wootton. 



Mecostethus grossus, Linne. — In an article on British Ortho- 

 ptera (Entom. xxii. 197), Mr. Miller states that "it is said to 

 occur in fields, but is probably not a native of this country." 

 Mr. Briggs (Ent. Mo. Mag., Nov. 1895) states that "previous to 

 the present year only three specimens seem to have been recorded 

 from Great Britain during the present half-century." However, 

 in the 'Young Naturalist,' vol. vii., and Ent. Mo. Mag. xxvi. 34, 

 I recorded it as occurring on the Dorset Heaths. The last 

 specimens I took were in the Isle of Purbeck, on July 27th, 

 1880 ; and I have no reason to doubt that it still occurs there. 

 My father used to take it commonly at Whittlesea Mere, and also 

 on Parley Heath, and in the New Forest. It is apparently a 

 local species, being confined to the wettest and most boggy 

 portions of heath-land ; and has occurred in the west of Ireland, 

 and in the counties of Dorsetshire, Hampshire, Huntingdon- 

 shire, Cambridgeshire, and Norfolk, and in former years in the 

 marshes close to London. Some uncertainty has arisen owing to 

 the name of grossus having been applied in former years to the 

 common grasshopper, and that of fiavipes to this species. 



ENTOM. — DEC. 1895. 2 E 



