i68 Field Notes. 



Mr. W. J. Fordham identified the following beetles . — 



Loricera pilicornis. 



thins myrmecophilus. 



T achy poms chrysomclinus . 



T. humerosHS. 



Tychus nigcr. 



Atomaria apicalis. 



Atheta spp. 

 Mr. F. Rhodes puts the woodlice down as — 

 Porcellio scaber. 

 Trichoniscus pusillus. 



There were a few minute hymenoptera which it has not 

 been possible to get identified yet, and three small diptera — 

 Lonchoptera lutea Panz. 

 Limosina spp. 



This completes the collection. The presence of peculiar 

 winter types is not proved, however, and although it is possible 

 that the particular state of development might make some a 

 suitable food supply,* still it appears that similar food is 

 available the year round, and some other reason must be 

 sought. Is it possibly the absence of some enemy to whom 

 Boreus would be a food supply ? In such a case the absence 

 in winter of insect -eating birds from these open uplands and 

 moors would certainly seem a good reason for the appearance 

 in winter and absence in summer of an easily caught insect 

 like Boreus. 



The only other suggestion seems to be that in the larval 

 state Boreus requires summer conditions ; but this is somewhat 

 unusual. 



I am much indebted to the gentlemen named for their 

 kind assistance, and hope that this mid-winter fauna of an 

 extremely small area may prove of interest to any engaged in 

 Insect Ecology. 



Gagea at 1125 ft. altitude.— At Colt Park Wood, near 

 Ribblehead, in March last, Messrs. Burrell, Pearsall, and the 

 writer saw this plant in fair quantity over an area of many 

 S([uare yards, no flowers were seen, but the leaves are definitely 

 identified by the 3-5 strong ribs on the back (even in Bolton 

 Woods the percentage of flowering plants is \'ery low, cer- 

 tainly less than 5 per cent.). Mr. A. Bennett, of Croydon, 

 to whom leaves were submitted, states that the highest 

 altitude he has it recorded at in this country is 750 ft., though 

 in Norway and Finland it grows at 650 metres. — Chris. A. 

 Chkktham. 



* Til ere may be larx'ac whicli were not seen, aiul luissihh oilier .species 

 in addition to those in the list L;i\'en. 



Naturalist 



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