Zoology. 205 



COLEOPTERA. 



In this order some good work has been done by both 

 past and present workers, with the result that I am able to 

 record several rare and interesting species. 



That vast sheet of water, Lough Neagh, has long been 

 celebrated as the home of many rarities in natural history. 

 To the coleopterist its shores offer a most tempting hunting- 

 ground, nor will a visit be likely to be unrewarded. Here 

 are to be found such rarities ?is Dyschirius obscuri/s, FelopJiila 

 borealis, Bemhiditim argeafeolum, Ste?ius palposus, and. 

 Silpha dispar. I must warn my brethren of the net, how- 

 ever, that these species require to be looked for at the 

 proper time of year, else disappointment will ensue. The 

 months of May and June arc the most likely time for 

 capturing these species, though Pelophila and ..S'. dispar 

 may be obtained in July. 



The Mourne mountains can hardly be said to have been 

 searched at all, but the success of G. C. Champion's visit to 

 them should encourage further search. The capture of 

 such good things as Oxypoda rupicoia, Ocyusa hibeinica, 

 Homalota alpestris, and H. eremita seems to indicate the 

 probability of other equally pleasing captures. 



The Longicornia are not at all well represented in Ireland, 

 but at Tollyniore Park more than one species of these 

 beetles has been met with. The shores of Strangford Lough 

 seem to be peculiarly attractive to the genus Heterocerus, 

 three species at least having occurred there. The coast sand- 

 hills at Newcastle, Portrush, and Portballintrae have proved 

 very productive of beetles, and several interesting species 

 are to be found there. The hills round Belfast are capital 

 collecting-grounds, and even Rathlin Island is not without 

 attractions for the collector. 



I have not attempted to give a full list of all the beetles 

 occurring in the district, as space would not admit of it, and 

 the information can be obtained from the List of the Beetles of 

 Ireland^ just published by J. N. Halbert and myself. I have 

 instead selected the more rare and interesting species, 

 giving the localities of their capture, and such notes as 

 I thought likely to be of interest. 



