PRACTICAL HINTS. 268 



Panz. — " By beating elm at Chattenden ; one example, May 28th, 

 1898." This longicorne is almost confined to the New Forest. 

 Bruchus camis, Germ. — " On sainfoin (OnobrycMs sativa), Hailing 

 Downs, scarce." Cassida fastiiosa, Schall. — "A few specimens of 

 this rare and beautiful insect have been taken in a very restricted 

 space at Chattenden Eoughs in moss, in early spring, 1874 and 1897 ; 

 also one example by sweeping ragwort in the same spot, August, 

 1872." Procus armillatus, Fab. — " A single specimen of this fine and 

 extremely rare weevil was taken by me in a dry tuft of grass on 

 Darland Hill, March 11th, 1897." The few preceding extracts will 

 serve to show what very fine species the list contains, as also the 

 method employed in dealing with them. Every coleopterist who has 

 not yet got this list should endeavour to do so as soon as possible. 



Myrmedonia collaris, Payk., with Myrmica laevikodis at Wicken. 

 — Whilst searching for beetles with Messrs. Bouskell and Chitty last 

 month, under piled bundles of cut sedge in Wicken Fen, the latter 

 found a single specimen of Myrmedonia collaris. As further search 

 under those and other bundles near drew blank, I moved on to try and 

 find a more suitable place and came across two small heaps of loose 

 cut hay which I found to be full of Myrmica laevinodis. I concluded 

 that here, if anyAvhere, we should be successful. In this I was right, 

 as we Avere all three able to get a nice series of the beetle out of them. 

 I would note that Avhere the ants were most abundant I found the 

 most Myrmedonia, and there also occurred in some numbers what I 

 consider was without doubt the larva of the Myrmedonia. Myrmedonia 

 collaris is generally considered not to be a true myrmecophilous beetle. 

 Fowler says {Col. Brit. Isles, vol. ii., p. 56), " it does not, however, 

 appear at all certain that this and the preceding are necessarily 

 associated with ants," and Wasmann [Myr. u. Ter. Art., 1894, p. 74), 

 "It is not to be considered a regular myrmecophilous insect." I 

 consider this record goes far to support its claim to be a true ant 

 guest, especially on account of the presence of the larvae. It is often 

 recorded singly, or a few specimens at a time, in damp places, etc., 

 (see FoAvler lac. cit. and Bedwell, Morley's Suffolk List, p. 23) but I 

 think that if search were made for the host near the spot as I did, that 

 it is probable greater numbers w^ould be taken, as in our case. — Horace 

 DoNisTHORPE, F.Z.S., F.E.S., 58, Kensington Mansions, South 

 Kensington, S.W. 



Emus hirtus in Alderney. — Mr. E. D. Marquand captured a fine 

 specimen of this rare beetle at the Blaye on July 9th, it looked like a 

 wasp on the wing and was flying to a small heap of cow- dung. This 

 is the first record of its capture in the Channel Islands. — W. A. 

 Luff, Guernsey. Septsmher 5th, 1900. 



J^RACTICAL HINTS. 



By J. W. TUTT, F.E.S. 



Field Work for October. 



1. — In October, the larvae of Coleophora salineUa should be 

 collected from Suaeda maritima growing on the coast salterns. 



2. — By collecting the seed-heads of Avild marjoram in November, and 

 keeping them exposed to the weather during the winter, I bred a fine 

 series of Gelechia subocellella the following year (Elisha). 



