36 (July, — 
Note on varieties of British Coleoptera.—Among some beetles taken at Lewes 
by Mr. G. H. Verrall, I find a few specimens of a race of Hydrobius fuscipes, Linn., 
which I do not remember to have seen noticed in this country, if they be not the 
H. subrotundus of Steph., Ml. Mand., ii, 128, Manual, 90, with which in certain points 
they agree. Compared with typical fuscipes, these insects are shorter, broader and 
more globose, with shorter legs and tarsi, the elytra not so evidently crenate- 
striate, and with no larger irregular punctures in the alternate interstices. Among 
the few specimens above referred to are some affording traces of transition to the 
type form. Dr. Sharp, to whom I communicated these examples, tells me that he — 
also has observed the existence of this race, both in Great Britain and Spain. 
I also have in my collection a specimen of another var. of the same species, 
taken at Barnes, and which I refer to the H. wneus of Solier, Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr., 
iii, 1834, 314; conspicuous from its bright metallic green colour and light legs (it 
is quite mature). Hrichson (Col. March., 1889) refers to this var., which seems 
certainly identical with the prior H. chalconotus of Leach (1814) and Steph. Mand. 
ii (1829), 128. 
H. subrotundus and chalconotus are quoted in Wat. Cat, as synonyms (not vars.) ~ 
of H. fuscipes. 
Among anumber of Anchomenus versutus, Sturm, recently taken by me at 
Wimbledon, I find a few of a deep black colour, which are, I presume, to be referred 
to the A. lugubris of Dufts., quoted by Schaum as a form of A. versutus, of which 
they preserve the characteristic delicate build, short thorax, flat interstices, and 
short and thin antennw and legs. —E. C. Ryn, 10, Lower Park Fields, Putney, 8.W. 
Ceuthorhynchus vicinus, Brisout.—M. Brisout informs me that this insect is the 
CO. triangulum of Mirkel and Schénherr, according to Germar’s type.—Ib. 
“The ly” and “The Flea.’—Those interested in hop growing are just now 
discussing the ravages of two pests under the above titles. “The Fly” is well 
known to be an Aphis; but I do not think it is so well known that ‘‘The Flea” is 
a small beetle, Psylliodes attenuatus, Ent. H. I know not whether other species of 
the Halticide feed on the hop; but this is the one that does the damage hereabouts. 
—Hunry 8. Gornam, Bearsted, Maidstone, June 18th, 1870. 
[I believe that most of the functions of life are performed by all the Halticide 
“on the hop.” —H. C. R.] 
Something like reflection in Ceuthorhynchus sulcicollis, Gyll.—Having some time 
ago followed up the life history of Cewthorhynchus sulcicollis, in order to form an 
independent judgment on the various accounts published, I had the pleasure of 
observing the following little fact, which may be worth while mentioning. 
Finding that exclusions from the cocoons generally took place in the evening, 
or at night, I often placed a series of cocoons on a white sheet of paper before me ~ 
on my working table. 
Now, as a rule, after breaking open the cocoons in an irregular fashion, the 
beetles clambering out as best they could, at once tried to make their escape ; or, 
if arrested, shammed death instantly, after the most approved weevil manner, but 
