180 [January, 



When a stone, on being raised, revealed half a dozen or more of the latter insect, as 

 often happened, the noise of the explosions of these large and powerful " Bombardiers" 

 was quite startling, and the volatile liquid they discharged was strong enough to 

 cause a distinct sensation of burning in my fingers, which were deeply stained brown 

 for several days afterwards. At least five species of Srachinus were present, the 

 little pallid B. testaceus, Eamb., and sclopeta, E., being the most noteworthy : with 

 the latter Drypta dentata, Rossi, occurred very copiously in damp places. CalUstus 

 lunatus, P., and the beautiful Lebia puhipennis, Duf., were but seldom found, but 

 the usually rare Singilis iicolor, Ramb., was quite plentiful, with two species of 

 Flatytarsus, and of Cymindis, Licinus silphoides, F. (variety), Masoreus agyptiacus, 

 Dej. (in sandy spots), CMcenius chrysocephalus,'Ko8si,dindiazureus,Tie]. (rare), Orthomus 

 Mspanica, Dej., Fercus politus, Dej., and the elegant Feronia crenata, Dej., among 

 others. The large and fine Ditomus cephalotes, Dej., occurred rarely near San 

 Eoque ; two species of Aristus were not unfrequent, with the active little Apotomus 

 rufus, Eossi, under almost every big stone. Many interesting forms of Fselaphidce 

 and ScydmcBnidcB were to be seen, on close scrutiny, clinging to the under-sides of the 

 stones with sundry StapJiylinidm, the rare and curious Ctenomastax Kiesemoetteri, 

 Ktz., among them ; as well as two species of the singular genus Cossyphus (Dejeani, 

 Breme, and incostafus, Lap.), Calcar elongatum, Hbst., Adelostoma sulcatum, Dup., 

 the queer little linear Soromorphus tagenoides, Luc, Litohorus planicollis, Waltl, 

 and two species each of Stenosis and Dichillus. All these latter were to be found 

 in the tufts of grass, with a host of other small beetles, chiefly Rhynchophora : 

 among these may be mentioned Leucohimatium elongatum, Er., Dermestes sardotis, 

 Kust., Melyris granulata, F. (abundant), two species each of Sphenoptera, Aphanis- 

 tichus, Trachys, and Throscus, some eight or ten Anthici, Scleron armatum, Waltl 

 (in plenty), various species of Ptinus, Acalles, Gymnetron, Pachyty chins, Paris, 

 Mliytirhinus, &c., with occasional examples of Cleonus excoriatus, Gryll., Rhytideres 

 plicatus, 01., the gaudy black and scarlet Lithonoma limhata, F., Platynaspis villosa, 

 Fourc, and a Thorictus. Three or four brilliant green and coppery-red Chrysomela 

 abounded on the wild mint, and the beautiful C americana, L., was to be found in 

 plenty on Lavandula stcBchas. Walking about in the roads Brachycerus undatus, F., 

 and a smaller species were not rarely seen, and the Coprophaga were represented, in 

 their usual habitats, by the big black Copris hispana, L., Geotrupes Hqfmannseggii, 

 Frm., momus, Oliv., and hypocrita, Serv., Puhas bison, L., Onthophagus taurus, L., 

 and others of the last genus, all common. 



In and about small pools of water were found various Pyschirii and Pledii, 

 Georyssus, sp., Parnus Jiydrolates, Kies., and a fair number of the smaller Hydrade- 

 phaga. Among the wood-feeders the tiny Hypoborus jicus, Er., abounded in the 

 small twigs of fig trees, burrowing under the bark, and an old mulben-y stump at 

 Linea was full of Liparthrum mori, Aube. Hibernating under the loose flakes of 

 bark on Eucalyptus trees at Campamento, were swarms of common beetles ; among 

 them the pretty little Cardiophorus Q-punctatus, Latr., in clusters of a dozen or 

 more. Small puff balls yielded a good supply of Lycoperdina bovistcB, F. 



My most interesting captures were, however, made in the nests of the large 

 black ants {Atta capitata, and barbara,), which abounded under stones. With 

 these ants I was fortunate enough to find the rare and singular little Myrmecophilous 



