460 Mr. W. W. Saunders on 



Supplementary Paper. 



[Read 5th January, 1863.] 



At the last November meeting of the Entomological Society, I 

 read a paper on the species of the genus Catascopus discovered 

 by Mr. Wallace chiefly in the East Indian Islands, describing four 

 new species. Since the paper was read, Mr. Wallace has kindly 

 lent me the whole of the specimens of this genus, forming a 

 portion of his rich private collection, from which I have gained 

 much information regarding the species already described by my- 

 self and others ; and a careful examination of the series has shown 

 me seven additional undescribed species, as well as some varia- 

 tions in the characters of the determined species which deserve to 

 be noted. In the following pages descriptions of these new 

 species will be found, and also some remarks on the characters of 

 other species just alluded to. As these additional species con- 

 siderably alter the tables of geographical distribution given in my 

 first paper, I have thought it desirable to give fresh tables, which 

 will be found hereafter. I am indebted to Mr. Wallace for the 

 following interesting remarks on the habits of some of the species 

 of Catascopus which he met with while prosecuting his valuable 

 natural history researches in the East. 



*' The species of the genus Catascopus are semi-nocturnal in 

 their habits, never flying except at night. The species taken at 

 Dorey (viz., Wallacei, W. W. S. ; elongatus, W. W. S. ; Aruenais, 

 W. W. S ; amceniis, Chaud.) flew against me at dusk. The 

 greater part of the species and individuals I have taken have, 

 however, been captured under the decaying bark of fallen trees. 



'* As soon as the bark of a tree splits and cracks so as to 

 separate it from the wood, the Catascopi frequent it, but I could 

 scarcely ever capture them in that position, owing to their great 

 activity and the force required to tear off the bark. After a tree 

 has lain about a year the bark becomes rotten and can be easily 

 broken off, and then, by the assistance of a net, the insects which 

 lurk beneath it can be more easily captured. The larger species 

 found in Malacca, Borneo and Singapore used frequently to be 

 seen coursing along the surface of some immense fallen trees, 

 from" one crack to another, their brilliant bodies glittering 

 splendidly in the sunlight. 



