NATURAL LOCALITIES OF BRITISH COLEOPTERA. 59 
the species came from. In sweeping, however, over any extent of 
ground it is next to impossible to tell from what plant a particular 
species has been obtained, but a little knowledge of the plants to 
which groups are attached will often put the collector on the right 
scent, and enable him to take a large number of a good species. 
Many groups, especially Curculionide, are fond of nettles. 
The Crucifere are particularly affected by certain Chrysomelide 
and also Curculionide, especially Ceuthorrhynchi, Poophagi, 
Phytobu, and others. The groundsel (Senecio) is a favourite 
food-plant for species of Thyamis; the Geraniacese for Celiodes ; 
the clovers and trefoils for Sitonide, and above all for Apionide ; 
and the Verbascum for the Cionus (1 have known several of the 
species taken on one plant). Several small Ceuthorrhynchidi 
(C. Dawsom, C. frontalis, and C. troglodytes) live on different 
species of Plantago, while the Lemnacez and other water-plants 
must be searched for Donacie ; certain Cyperaceze for some of 
the Hrirrhini, Telmatophili, &c.; the Alismacee for Bagoi; and 
species of Carduus for Larimus, Rhinocyllus, &c. Livi and 
others inhabit the stems of the thistles, and Mononychus the 
seed-pods of Iris pseudacorus; the Longicorns may be found in 
abundance on Umbelliferee in woods, and certain Cryptocephalt 
and Mordelle on Hieracia; while the Labiate, especially Lamiwm 
album and Stachys sylvatica must be carefully examined by all 
collectors who wish to get together the obscure genus Meligethes, 
although certain good species of this genus are attached to the 
Ranunculacee, especially Caltha palustris. It must not be 
supposed, however, that the species are attached to all members 
of a family of plants; they are very discriminating, and, as a rule, 
each species of beetle is attached to its particular species of 
plant, and not even to a particular genus. 
A collector should never work quite indiscriminately, although 
he must always do so to a certain extent. He should always set 
a particular class or genus before him, and find out as much as 
he can about its habits, and the trees or plants to which it is 
attached. He should then work particularly for the species 
belonging to it, and will find himself well rewarded, not only by 
taking these, but also by often taking many more species of other 
genera than he would otherwise obtain by aimless general 
collecting. 
G2 
