8-L ENTOMOLOGICAL RAMBLES IN THE MIDLANDS. 



scarce, this beetle occurs in some plenty here, living gregariously in 

 winter only, in the folds of the dead reeds. All my efforts to find this 

 species during the summer months have resulted in failure, and Dr. 

 Sharp, who takes it near Edinburgh, tells me that his experience in 

 this respect corresponds with mine. His opinion is that as soon as 

 the mild weather sets in it flies away to the more inaccessible parts of 

 the bogs and marshes. This is not the only species that cannot be 

 found in summer time — a fact which alone shows the importance of 

 winter collecting. 



Three other species of the genus Anchomenus, all of which we are 

 glad to find, accompany puellus, viz. — A. micam, A. piceus, and 

 A. gracilis — the latter an intensely black species of small size and 

 elegant outline. Now and again we turn out a specimen of the very 

 common A. fuliginosus, but never actually in company with A. puellus — 

 the latter possibly considering itself too aristocratic to associate with 

 such a plebeian as the former, which, by-the-bye, we can obtain in 

 abundance from the Sphagnum growing at our feet, a habitat not 

 frequented (so far as my experience shows) by puellus. 



The genera Deme trios, Dromius, Badister, Pterostichus, Amara, 

 Bradycellus, and Bembidium are well represented — Pterostichus more 

 numerously than the others, the species being vemalis, nigrita, gracilis, 

 minor, strenuus, and diligens. Noterus sp irsus and a few Hydropori also 

 occur, as well as Laccobius minutus, and several species of Helophorus 

 and Ocrcgon. The important section Brachelytra, as might be expected, 

 stands out very prominently amongst the others — Homalota, Gyrophcena, 

 Gonurus, Tachyporus, Qucdius, Philonthus, Xantholimus, Lathrobium, 

 Lestcva, Homalium, and Stenus being the genera to which the majority 

 belong. Of the species of Stenus found here quite a long list could be 

 given, some of them being rather uncommon. Now and again wo 

 turn out a specimen of the pretty Baptolinus alternans, as also of the 

 curious and unique Crgptobiuiu j'ruct iconic. One or two species of 

 Evozsthctus occur in some plenty, and occasionally we arc rewarded for 

 our perseverance by the acquisition of Hygronoma dimidiata — a small, 

 narrow, elongate " Staph," blackish, with the apical two-thirds of its 

 elytra pale straw-colour. The rare Ocyusa picina also occurs 

 hero in company with its less scarce congener, O. maura. 

 Tho Glavicoruia are largely represented by the genera Tclmato- 

 philus, Gryptophagus, Atomaria, Lathridius, and Corticaria. One 

 of the prettiest beetles, belonging to this group, winch we 

 have had the pleasure of capturing here (only very sparingly 

 though) is Psammachus bipunctatus — a tiny yellow beetle with two 

 black spots on tho elytra. Our researches reveal the interesting fact 

 thai; several weevils (Rhynchophora) are in the habit of taking up 

 their winter quarters in these dead reeds; for amongst our captures 

 are several species of Sitones, Erirhinus nereis, die, Mecinus pyraster, 

 Orchestes quercus, dtc, Oceliodes, Baris i. allium, and a considerable 

 number of Apions. The Longicornia are totally absent ; but there are 



