ZOOLOGY. 109 
placed upon its back, it will readily disengage itself. It 
appears to be quite nocturnal in its habits, flying in num- 
bers into the rooms when the candles are lighted ; and if 
taken in the fingers, considerable pressure is necessary to 
prevent its escape: during its struggle for liberty, it utters 
a short squeaking noise. A single specimen of a species of 
Heliopates, we found beneath a stone on Cooper’s Island. 
Diaprepes afinis is rather common, usually frequenting the 
wild sage bush when in bloom. It is a pretty insect, and 
appears to be covered with a bluish-green powder, which. 
readily rubs off when the insect is pressed between the 
fingers. An later, of a light-brown colour, frequents the 
trunks of the cedar trees, but we are not certain as to the 
species. Mr. Hurdis mentions a small species of grain- 
eating beetle, probably a species of Bruchus, which he 
states to be extremely destructive in the stores of Indian 
corn, meal, biscuits, rice, &c. 
Doubtless a few other species of coleoptera might be 
added to the list, if proper search were made in the spring 
of the year; but, unfortunately, our visit being in autumn, 
all our efforts were unavailing to increase our collection, 
although we worked hard almost daily during our stay. 
ORTHOPTERA (Crickets, CockroacuEs, Locusts, &c.) 
The common cockroach of the Bermudas is Blatta 
Americana. It is extremely abundant during the hot 
summer months, particularly in old houses surrounded by 
trees. Far different from our English species, which ap- 
pears to have a preference for “life below stairs,” the B. 
Americana, strong and swift of wing, flies in through the 
drawing-room windows, and, buzzing about the heads of 
