1918.1 25 



Now, in reproducing tlie above tables of weather conditio"ns and 

 comparisons, I do not, of course, imagine that from a single series of 

 such data inferences of any value can be drawn ; but I am inclined to 

 think that if similar figures could be regularly published and compared 

 Avith systematic faunistic records, for any given locality during some 

 considerable period, correspondences might be discovered of the utmost 

 value in the solution of the problem in hand, a solution wdiich it is 

 obvious however interesting to the entomologist might be of still more 

 economic and practical value to the agriculturalist. 



Secondlv, as regards the alteration of the environment by human 

 agency. Unhappily, no more conspicuous example of this could be cited 

 than the present condition of a large area of North-Eastern France. 

 Far removed from such a catastrophic disturbance of natural conditions, 

 but of the same origin, is the destruction of woodlands by systematic 

 felling for purposes connected with the war which is now taking place 

 in so many districts throughout this country. Here especially, in an 

 area consisting largely of woods of Scots pine, the character of the land 

 surface is being entirely altered, and the continual bmniings of ** toppings 

 and loppings " entailed by the conversion of the trees into cut timber, 

 adds a factor which probably has effects of a quite exceptional character 

 on both fauna and flora. 



Proceeding now to a more detailed although necessarily very im- 

 perfect consideration of Avhat the changes in the character of the 

 Coleopterous fauna of the district have been, I refer, firstly, to 

 the Geodephaga, and find that probably the most noteworthy event 

 connected with that group has been the surprising and rather mysterious 

 emergence of the Carabid Pterostichus angustatus Dufts., discovered 

 here by Mr. Tomlin.* What the exact nature of the association of this 

 beetle with burnt wood, if, indeed, any such real association exists, is at 

 present unknown. Since its discovery in a very limited area in the spring 

 of 1916, it has widely extended its range and has been taken this year in 

 localities quite remote from its first haunt, but all containing burnt or 

 charred timber. 



It seems incredible a jyriori that P. angustatus should have been 

 recentl}^ introduced from the Continent and suddenly appear in the 

 interior of Berkshire ; nor is it much less difficult to understand how 

 so large and conspicuous a beetle, if it be a member of our indigenous 

 fauna, should have hitherto eluded observation and capture. 



My experience this and last year with regard to this species fully 



* Ent. Mo. Mug. 1016. pp. inj-LV.), 



