408 Mr. H, St. J. Donisthorpe on the Origin 



to be rather the exception than the rule " (Fowler, I. c. p. 

 296). It has been taken with Formica rufa, at Knowle 

 and Bewdley (Ellis) ; Corbridge-on-Tyne (Bagnall) ; I have 

 taken it with the same ant at Weybridge and Oxsliott, 

 with Zasius fuliginosus at Tilgate Forest, Walton, and 

 Wellington College, with Formica exsecta at Bournemouth, 

 and with F. sanguinca at Nethy Bridge, Inverness-shire. 

 I am inclined to think it occurs more often with ants than 

 is supposed, and that it has made considerable steps 

 towards becomino^ a true ants'-nest dweller. Ganglbauer 

 records it sometimes with L. fuliginosus and F. congerens. 



Jjcjjtinus testaccus, Miill. 



As this little blind beetle has been taken in the nest 

 and runs of Zasius fuligi7iosits at Mickleham (Rye), Tilgate 

 Forest (Champion), and Guestliug (Collett), it must be 

 mentioned here. It occurs more frequently in nests of 

 bees, birds, moles and small rodents. 



Father Wasmann writes of the Scydmacnidac — " Many 

 species of this family are occasionally ants' guests, with- 

 out belonging regularly to their company. Proportion- 

 ately few are strongly myrmecophilous. The food of the 

 Scyclmacnidae appears to consist chiefly of mites. Their 

 ant-like appearance (' Ant-beetles,' Mtiller and Kunze) 

 has perhaps at best a biological signification in the larger 

 Scydmacnia, whether on account of protection from insect 

 feeders, or for intercourse with ants is not yet known." 



Scydinaenus godarti, Latr, 



" Under bark, in rotten wood, in company with ants ; 

 rarely under dead leaves ; Buddon Wood, Leicestershire, 

 in nests of Formica rufa; Sherwood Forest, in rotten 

 wood, with ants " (Fowler, iii, p. 77). 



In April 1905, Messrs. Bouskell, Chitty and I, all found it 

 in nests of Formica rufa at Buddon Wood. The specimens 

 taken by Bouskell and myself were in the centre of a nest, 

 running about quite at home in the midst of the ants, 

 and moving the antennae rapidly in true myrmecophilous 

 manner. The ants paid no attention to them. I consider 

 this species is practically established here as an ant guest. 



Scydmaenus pusillus, Miill. 



It has been recorded with Formica rufa^ at Buddon 



