298 Mr Wilson on the Distribution of Insects. 



other parts of Scotland it is more frequent under damp moss, on 

 the decayed stumps of trees. 



Lamprias dilorocephalus, a very beautiful small insect, not 

 frequent in any part of Scotland, occurred sparingly along the 

 southern borders of Sutherland ; but, so far as we could ob- 

 serve, disappeared in the central and northern districts. 



Of Tarus hasalis, a species which, in Sweden, occurs on plains 

 and throughout the central and southern portions of Europe on 

 high mountains, only a single specimen was taken in Sutherland, 

 in a valley of considerable elevation. 



Abux striola, rather a rare insect, as far as hitherto observed, 

 in other parts of Scotland, was not unfrequent. Blemus palu- 

 dosus was rare in the north, although the species is known to 

 extend to Shetland. Blelhim multipunctata, a very scarce in- 

 sect in Scotland, occurred to our observation only on one occa- 

 sion, in a marsh in Cromarty, near the southern border of 

 Sutherland. Two or three were taken together, running rapidly 

 over the moist mud, in company with Elapkrus ciipreus. A 

 fine variety of this insect (5. multipunctata), was lately found 

 by Mr Eschseholtz, in Kamtschatka. On the European conti- 

 nent it extends as far north as Lapland. 



We looked anxiously, but in vain, for Elaphrus splendidus^ 

 an insect lately taken, for the first time in Britain, by Mr Lyell, 

 younger of Kinordy, on Cat-Law, Forfarshire. As it is com- 

 mon in Lapland, we deemed its occurrence in Sutherland pro- 

 bable, more especially after its frequent capture in a more 

 southern county. 



Among the. aquatic beetles, I regret to say we did very little, 

 our time, when tempted by the presence of the " pure element 

 of waters," being almost exclusively occupied in angling, — an 

 amusement extremely agreeable in the morning, and (when 

 successfully followed) remarkably useful in the afternoon. 



Silpha obscura appears in Sutherland under an unusual aspect, 

 being frequently of a reddish-brown colour, instead of dull 

 black. I at first thought that this peculiarity of hue might be 

 the result of immaturity, as many coleopterous insects are pale 

 of colour, on their first assumption of the perfect state; but its 

 general prevalence and continuance afterwards induced me rather 



