189^-] 259 



Ptomaphagiis varicornis, Rosenh., Sfc, at Oiiildford. — I have already recorded 

 {cf. ante^ pp. 135, 185) some few interesting Coleoptera from the neighbourhood of 

 Gruildford. To these I may add the results of three subsequent visits to the locality, 

 in July, August and October : — Ptomaphagus varicornis, one $ , in company with 

 plenty of the common P. sericeus ; Colon viennense, JSuplectus Abeillei, Scydmcenus 

 Sparshalli, Pythinus Purrelli, Choragus Sheppardi, Mycetoporus punctus, Agarico- 

 pliagus cephalotes, Sydnoiius punctatissimus, Anisotoma litura, Syntomium ceneum, 

 Oxypoda spectahilis and incrassata, and Oxytelus clypeonitens ; all obtained by 

 evening sweeping. My friend Mr. R. W. Lloyd has also taken at the same plaoe a 

 fine (J of Colon rufescens. — Id. 



Latheticus oryzcs, C. 0. Waterh. — I have recently had forwarded to me two 

 lively " samples " of infected barley from a London granary. The first sample was 

 Persian, from Bussorah. It contained an immense number of Coleoptera, which, on 

 examination sorted out into five species — Latheticus oryzcB, Rhizopertha pusilla, 

 Calandra granaria, Lcemophlosus pusillus, and Tribolium ferrugineum, the first 

 mentioned being by far the most numerous in individuals. In the same lot I also 

 found a single specimen of a peculiar Antkocorid, quite strange to me. The second 

 sample, which was much older and dustier, came from Odessa. It contained 

 specimens of the same species, but in more limited numbers. The Latheticus is very 

 active, and when the samples were placed in the sun, or warmed, it rapidly emerged 

 from the grain. I am informed that these insects soon spread from one bulk to 

 another in the granaries. Latheticus, the real habitat of which is unknown at 

 present, is, no doubt, of eastern origin ; it appears in British and European lists as 

 an introduced species. It will probably soon rank with such cosmopolitan forms as 

 Gnathocerus, Alphitoiius, Palorus, &c., and be carried to all parts of the world. — Id. 



Rare Aculeate Hymenoptera. — I have been fortunate in taking males of the 

 following, in spite of the wretched season : — Ilethoca ichneumonides, Latr., at Oxshotfc 

 on August 1st ; Pompilus (Aporus) unicolor, at Boxhill, on August 8th ; and Pom- 

 pilus {Evagethes) hicolor, at Oxshott, on September 1st. I am indebted to Mr. 

 Saunders for determining the species. — Alfred Beaumont, The Eed Cottage, Pond 

 Eoad, Blackheath : October \st, 1894. 



Hymenoptera in Shetland and Orkney. — On August 25th last I left Aberdeen 

 by the S.S. " Eognvald," on a visit of about three weeks to Shetland, hoping to 

 secure a good series of Bombus Smithianu.t, and perhaps to solve the mystery of 

 Bombus " nivalis." I had intended at first to stay at Lerwick, but finding that my 

 steamer (the largest and most comfortable in the service) was going on to Unst, I 

 resolved to do the same, and on August 27th I found myself in good quarters at 

 Mr. Weber's new hotel at Balta Sound, and ready to begin collecting. 



B. Smithianus was abundant beyond all my expectations. During the week I 

 spent in Unst I found it everywhere. The entrances to its burrows were often in 

 the unmortared stone walls, called dykes, which in these islands take the place of 

 hedges ; and my attention was repeatedly called to them by the crowds of males, 

 which dashed about them witli loud hummings from morning till night whenever 



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