136 : { November, 
Notes on the metamorphoses of Metatropis rufescens.—Some few years since, when 
beating a willow bush, I obtained a single specimen of Metatropis rufescens. This | 
I was told at the time was the second example of that species known to have been 
taken in England; but all my efforts to find more in the same way proved failures. 
Last spring, Mr. J. Scott informed me that it had been taken in Switzerland, 
on Circea lutetiana ; and, as I knew that plant grew in the neighbourhood, I de- 
termined to discover the bug, if possible. However, I was unsuccessful, until June 
last, when I had the pleasure of capturing on that plant about two dozen | 
small Hemipterous larvae, which, as I expected, proved to be those of M. ru- | 
fescens. Having never tried to rear any of the Hemiptera, I had some doubts of | 
being able to do so successfully ; but, as the food plant was small and manageable, 
I determined to make the attempt; so I carefully removed some of the growing | 
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plants, and, when I got home, potted them, covered them with a gauze-topped | 
cylinder, put the bug-larvee upon the plants, and left them to their fate, The next — 
day I was glad to see some of them with their proboscides buried in the soft 
flower-buds, sucking away at the juices with vigour. They fed up well, giving me 
no trouble beyond that of occasionally watering the plants, and changed their skin 
three times during captivity, the wing-cases becoming more distinct after each 
moult. They were full-fed by the end of August. 
The mode of casting the skin, especially the last, was to me most interesting, 
As the creature increases in size the skin gets too short for it, and the anal ex- 
tremity becomes drawn up somewhat over the abdomen. It now fixes itself firmly 
by the claws to a leaf or stem of the plant, head downwards. The head is bent 
under, the antenn are laid along between the legs, and the larva appears to for- 
cibly straighten the abdomen, the pressure causing the skin behind the head to 
split, and the thorax to be protruded through the opening. Leg after leg is drawn 
slowly out, the head and antennz following; the wing-cases and wings are drawn 
down to their proper proportions, and the imago then remains suspended by the 
last segment. In a short time it extricates itself entirely, but is some time before 
coming to its proper colour and firmness. The old coat would, I think, make a 
good object for the microscope.—HENry Moncrearr, High Street, Portsmouth, 
October, 1871. 
Captures of Hemiptera at Bournemouth, §c.—From the 9th to 25th September 
I was at Bournemouth, and, although the weather was dry and sunny, insects, 
not numerous at first, became scarcer day by day, until at last hardly one was to 
be had; hence I concluded that my visit should have ended about the time it 
began. I note only the best captures.— 
Corizus Abutilon, Rossi: one, by sweeping Psamma arenaria. This is the second 
recorded English specimen. 
C. parumpunctatus, Schill. : two, by sweeping the Psamma. 
Hypnophilus micropterus, Curt.: one, with the membrane of the elytra fully de- 
veloped :—a very rare form. ~ 
Phytocoris ?: one specimen among heath, near pine trees. Agrees with 
the description of Ph. pini, Kirschb., in many respects, but differs in having 
the first joint of the antennz longer than the pronotum. 
