COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS, ETC. 221 
Of many thousands of Gerris paludum, seen in the Ouse-burn in 
October, not one had wings, or even wing cases. I took some 
small bugs i copuld, early in March, which appears rather 
remarkable, as these insects are in the perfect state only in sum- 
mer orautumn. Another peculiarity of this remarkable year was 
the abundance of winged Aphides in May, which were flying 
in great numbers in the lanes on the few warm still days we 
had towards the end of that month. I beat a grown species 
(apparently the Callipterus betule, Koch’s Aphiden, fig. 289), in 
great numbers, out of birch, on the 18th of May, of which fully 
one-half had wings. I need scarcely observe that Aphides are 
produced in spring from eggs laid the previous autumn; these 
young are all without wings, and females, they in their turn 
produce other wingless females alive, and so on through many 
generations, until towards autumn, when winged males and females 
appear, and it is this brood which provides for the continuation 
of the species, and which, taking wing, are often forced upon our 
notice by their numbers on warm still days. Midges were also 
not wanting, as I found to my cost when beating the hedges in 
Cumberland. Neither were ‘‘Clegs” wanting, and I noticed a 
rare Tabanus (Austriacus) much too abundant for the comfort of 
a farmer’s horses near Lannercost. 
XXXIV.—Coleopterous Insects added to the Fauna of Northum- 
berland and Durham, in 1861. By Tuomas Joun Bo xp. 
1. Amara obsoleta, Dej. Taken beneath a dead crab, near 
Cullercoats, in May. 
2. Bradycellus distinctus, Dej.—Faune Francais, i., 142. 
Marsden, Mr. Perkins; I have a specimen in my own 
collection, hitherto over-looked, and which, I think, was 
taken near South Shields. 
3. Haploglossa pretexta, Er.—Kraatz, ii.,82. Long Benton, 
May 31, in a bottle sunk in the earth near a hot bed. A 
most excellent trap for small beetles, especially if baited 
with pieces of skin, bones or small birds. 
