1889. j 391 



but Drusil 'la canaliculata was the only beetle with them. Some inter- 

 esting little land-shells were found, chiefly by lifting the top stones of 

 the walls, and I was somewhat startled to come across a huge 

 salamander, coal-black, with large sharply-defined patches of the most 

 brilliant chrome-yellow on the under-parts of the body, a most striking- 

 looking beast. Leaving the pine plantation, I proceeded up a steep 

 slope covered with an exceedingly interesting vegetation, consisting 

 chiefly of two or three kinds of heath, the Cornish species, Erica 

 vagans, being abundant. The beautiful Connemara heath, Dabeocia 

 polifolia, was also plentiful in places, though very seldom to be found in 

 flower at present. Viola canina, two or three species of Narcissus, a 

 bright blue Boraginaceous flower, like Lycopsis, but of much stouter 

 growth, Polygala, Tormentilla, and other pretty flowers abounded, 

 while an occasional tuft of Aspliodelus racemosus reminded one of more 

 southern regions. Both the British species of Ulex (nanus and 

 europcBus) were of very fine growth, the latter attaining a height of 

 twelve feet with a stem as thick as one's arm. Towards the top of 

 these heights, at an elevation of some 700 feet, the vegetation got 

 rather dwarfed and scanty, assuming somewhat the character of that 

 of a Cornish moor, the " dry stone " walls also serving to recall the 

 memory of that county. Turning over the granite stones, which were 

 exceedingly numerous, yielded but few beetles ; one fine Heliopathes 

 was found, with a few ordinary forms of Garahidce (Platyderus, &c), 

 also Leistotrophus inurinus and Ontlwphilus striatus, in dry cow-dung. 

 The wind was very cold and strong up here, so I soon descended into 

 the more cultivated land near the harbour, through some picturesque 

 but very muddy lanes between the occasional pine plantations. A very 

 pretty little shining Crypticus occurred to the number of five under 

 one stone, and I also found two more Garabus lateralis, one C. melan- 

 cholicus, Leistus fulvibarbis and rufescens (I think), Cionus blattarice 

 beaten off Scrophularia, and a single specimen of a very beautiful 

 shining scarlet and black Lithonoma. My way back led round the 

 head of the Serantes creek, and into one of the gates of Ferrol, which 

 I reached at about 6 p.m., having had a very pleasant and interesting, 

 if somewhat damp, walk. 



On the 17th, the weather had improved greatly, and the sun shone 

 out at frequent intervals, but it still blew hard from the north-east, 

 and was somewhat cold in the shade. 1 landed at Ferrol at 12.30, and 

 went out round the head of the Serantes creek, finding Garabus later- 

 alis before I got out of the tow : n. This fine insect appears to be by 

 no means rare here, as I obtained six specimens during the afternoon, 



LL 2 



