198 Mr. P. H. Gosse on the Insects of Jamaica. 



an elevation of (perhaps) 1500 feet, I found in March several 

 groups of this Gyrinus. Their manners were much like those 

 of G. natator, but they were less rapid in their evolutions, and 

 when diving did not show any little pearl of air at the extremity 

 of the body. They huddled together more : at one dash of a 

 small ring-net I took forty-five. I subsequently saw the same 

 species at other seasons of the year in the same brook. 



5. Dineutes metallicus. In a brook between Paradise and 

 Savanna le mar in April. 



6. Creophilus vUlosus. On two occasions I have observed this 

 beetle crawling and flying about animal substances in a state of 

 putrefaction. It has an extensive range, for in Newfoundland it 

 is so abundant about the drying cod-fish as to be quite a pest ; 

 and I have found it also in Canada and in Alabama, U.S. 



7. Philonthus (sp. nov.). On the Hampstead Road is a grove 

 of rose-apple trees [Eugenia jambos) ] when this fruit is ripe the 

 stone is loose, not nearly filling the cavity that incloses it. In 

 the decaying rose-apples beneath the trees I found this little 

 beetle common, together with a minute Nitidula ; two or three 

 being in the cavity of almost every decayed fruit. I do not ap- 

 prehend that they are able to get into the cavity until a part of 

 the pulp is destroyed by decomposition, but contact with the 

 earth soon effects this. In no case were they in a sound fruit, 

 though several in such condition lay beneath the trees. The 

 season was the latter part of June. 



8. Belonuchus (sp. nov.). 



9. Osorius (sp. nov.). At the summit of Bluefields Peak in 

 March, I found this beetle in some numbers beneath the rotting 

 bark of a fallen tree. 



10. Osorius (sp. nov.) . Considerably less than the preceding : 

 beneath a stone, on Bluefields Mountain, March 12th. 



11. Poederus connatus (Haliday). A curious little species, ap- 

 parently destitute of both wings and elytra ; the latter are how- 

 ever discernible by the aid of a microscope, but soldered together. 



12. Phancms (sp. nov.). Common on the roads, rolling pel- 

 lets of horse-dung : it chiefly occurs in the lowlands. 



13. Onthophagus (sp.). Bluefields, in December. 



14. Trox (a sp. near murinus). 



15. Oryctes Jamaicensis. Three or four specimens of this spe- 

 cies were brought to me at different times ; all found near Blue- 

 fields, and (as I believe) in the earth of cultivated grounds. 



16. Megasoma tit anus. Repeatedly brought to me, but I 

 never found it alive. I have taken, however, the great horned 

 males from the stomach of Nyctibius Jamaicensis, whence I infer 

 that it flies by night. 



17. Cyclocephala signata. Very abundant at almost all times ; 



