252 PENTATOMA RUFIPES IN BELFAST. 



found, or in localities where their existence had not 

 previously been observed. This is another of those 

 analogies which the mind delights to trace between 

 the animal and vegetable world, for we not unfre- 

 quently find an insect appearing 



" Like a wild flower, where it was least expected." 



One instance of this, of a somewhat ludicrous 

 kind, fell under my observation while I lived in 

 High-street. A favourite cat was observed by one 

 of the servants to have caught, at the back entrance 

 to the dwelling-house, a diminutive and unusual- 

 looking object. It was taken from her clutches, and 

 brought to me. On examination, I found it was one 

 of those Cimicidce which feed on the juices of plants, 

 and which, of course, are usually found in woody 

 places. How it came into one of the principal busi- 

 ness streets of Belfast it would be useless to con- 

 jecture; but when I announced that a specimen of 

 Pentatoma rufipes had thus been captured, I was 

 bantered not a little by the members of the house- 

 hold, who alleged that poor pussy must have been 

 smitten, like myself, with a fondness for entomo- 

 logical pursuits. 



As another example of the same kind may be 

 mentioned, the unexpected recognition, at Cranmore, 

 of Cossonus Tarda, by my friend and fellow member, 



