THE FAUNA OF THE MARITIME ZONE 279 



Of the " Bristle-tails " (Thysanuridce) to which belongs 

 the little " Silver Eel " (Lepisma saccharina), a swift-run- 

 ning, silvery insect, very common in houses, among old 

 books, and in little-used cupboards there is a repre- 

 sentative on the coast. This is Machilis maritima. It is 

 larger than the familiar, house-infesting one just mentioned, 

 and is a beautiful, bronze -coloured insect, with iridescent 

 reflections. It may be seen in numbers running swiftly 

 over rocks close to the sea in bright sunshine. 



The Podurids (or Colkmhola) are also represented in this 



Fig. 121. Rhincolopus plumipes, Lucas. Natural size, displayed. 

 And slightly reduced, among moss. The mite on the right- 

 hand side. (I believe the male only has the plumosa feet. 

 J. S.) 



zone, but no authentic list of them has yet appeared. 

 They offer a good field for investigation to the young 

 naturalist. 



The Lepidoptera. The sea-shore has also its own char- 

 acteristic forms among the moths. The beautiful " Spurge 

 Hawk Moth," has its breeding ground on the coast, and its 

 larva feeds on the spurges which grow in sandy places. 

 It was formerly abundant in the Channel Islands, but seems 

 to have disappeared. 



Aporophylla Australis. The larva of this is found under 

 stones on the edge of the beach. Other coast species are : 



