72 Zoology 



Copris lunaris L., in the Lamellicornia, was recorded by the Rev. L. Jenyns 

 as plentiful in 1828 in a field near Melbourn; but it has not been taken in 

 Cambridgeshire since. Of the Serricornia, the last specimen recorded for 

 the very rare Ludius ferrugineiis L. was taken on a poplar by the Cam about 

 100 years ago. It has since been taken and bred in Windsor Forest by the 

 late Miss Kirk and the writer in some numbers in recent years. Platycis 

 minutHs]. was discovered by the late G. H. Verrall in Chippenham Fen in 

 1898, and has been taken there by the writer and other collectors. 



Of the longicorns, Oberea oculata L. has already been dealt with. The 

 large Saperda carcharias L. used to be abundant both in Wicken village 

 and the Fen some thirty years ago. I understand it is much scarcer now. 

 Agapanthia UneaticoUis Donov. may still be swept off thistles in the fens. 



In the Chrysomelidae, Chrysomela graminis L., which used to be 

 abundant on water mint in various parts of the fens, is much scarcer now 

 I am told, and restricted to small local patches. A number of the Donaciae 

 are found, and the rare D. dentata HofF. used to be common on various 

 water plants. Adimonia oelandica Boh., a very rare species, was found by 

 the late Mr Blatch in number in Wicken Fen in 1878 ; it has not occurred 

 since. 



Among the Heteromera, the most interesting species are Cteniopus 

 sulphureusL., a coast species, not uncommon by sweeping in Wicken Fen. 

 Lytta vesicatoria L., the "blister beetle", was originally recorded from the 

 Gogmagog Hills, where it was found again by the writer in 1901. It is 

 sometimes abundant at Newmarket, etc., on privet hedges. Anthicus 

 bifasciatus Rossi (new to Britain) was discovered by the Fryers in manure 

 heaps round Chatteris ; subsequently taken by Williams in a manure heap 

 at Wicken; and by the late Miss Kirk and the writer in Burwell Fen; all in 

 numbers. It has since been found in Oxfordsliire (J. J. Walker), etc. The 

 Rliynchophora, or weevils, are abundant. CeHthonhynchus angtdosus Boh., 

 a local and rare species, was taken by J. C. F. and J. H. Fryer on Stachys 

 and Galeopsis at Chatteris and Somersham (they also took the rare Halticid 

 Dibolia cynoglossi Koch, on Galeopsis at Somersham). The curious Lixus 

 paraplectiais L., which occurs on Simn latifolitmi in Wicken Fen, has already 

 been mentioned. It is covered with a yellow dust, wliich is renewed in 

 life. The local Dorytomus sahcinus Gyll. can be beaten off sallow bushes in 

 Wicken Fen, etc. 



DIPTERAL Our knowledge of the distribution of species of Diptera 

 is still very incomplete. Intensive collecting, even in a county such as 

 Cambridgeshire, could not fail to produce a number of species previously 

 unrecorded (or even undescribed). We know still less of the changes that 



■ By J. E. Collin, F.R.E.S. 



