84 STRAWBERRY. 
dozen, proved to be Harpalus ruficornis, five Pterostichus (Omaseus) 
vulgaris, and one Pterostichus (= Steropus) madidus ; for descriptions of 
which see p. 82. 
I give the report of Mr. Rice in ewtenso, as it contains a deal of 
very useful information, as,—increase of the area affected in 1895 
compared with that in which the presence of the beetles was mischie- 
vous in 1894; and also the serious amount of injury caused, both to ripe 
and green fruit. Also some points desirable to be known regarding 
the habits of the beetles, as,—the method in which they lie sheltered 
round the plants in the day in vast numbers, and their activity at 
night; and the clearness of the fruit from other kinds of insect attack, 
and from the attacks of other kinds of beetles than those mentioned 
in the report. Also the fact of the beetles being observed in the act 
of feeding on Strawberry fruit; and also that on some of them being 
placed in a tin with fresh fruit they settled down at once to the attack. 
Also various other points useful to know regarding practicable methods 
of trapping found to answer in lessening numbers; nature of soil, &e. 
And also two short notes of ‘local opinions” as to possible cause of 
this injurious visitation with which Mr. Rice begins his report, both of 
which are worth consideration, and especially the first regarding 
‘“‘sanitary manure.” This being composed of the clearing of ashpits 
under ‘sanitary’ regulations, from which the manure takes its name, 
and being consequently a mixture of all kinds of garbage and rubbish 
(some of which, as meat and fish, I found, in the course of my experi- 
ments, these carnivorous beetles would eat eagerly), would be very 
likely to be an attraction to the beetles, and a centre from which they 
would spread. 
The report of Mr. Rice, made on July 2nd, is as follows :— 
“ Locan Opinions.—(1) That beetles came through heavy dressing 
of sanitary manure. (2) That absence of moles (which have been 
killed by thousands during the last three or four years) allows the 
beetles to multiply. 
“The only crop affected last year was that of Mr. Smith” [see 
observations of damage at Woodborough, p. 94 of my ‘ Highteenth 
Report,’ Ep.]; ‘‘ but now others are suffering as badly, and in many 
places the district swarms with them, yet several large growers are 
not attacked. This year the attack began when the fruit was full- 
sized, and within three days of ripening. 
‘©A part of a field planted with Strawberries was valued at £10 as 
they were, but the owner dare not sell for fear of the pest; and a few 
days after the would-be buyer was called in to see them in ruin, the 
crop only fetching some thirteen or fourteen shillings as gathered by 
