Insects. 1997 



near the Vault shore, in its usual maritime situation, under a black bituminous shale, 

 daily covered by the tide. It was very scarce, and was accompanied by a blue, broad, 

 wrinkled Podurellide, destitute of the anal leaping fork. Microlymma brevipennis, 

 its other customary companion, was not present. Altogether I found eighty-eight 

 species of Coleoptera, nearly all of the commonest sorts. — James Hardy ; Penmanshiel, 

 Cockburnspath, Berwickshire, October 5, 1847. 



Remarks on Local Species of Coleoptera in the Neighbourhood of Bur ton-on- Trent. 

 — Having paid some attention during the past summer to the collecting of Coleoptera 

 in this neighbourhood, whose productions in this order of insects had not before been 

 investigated, I have drawn up a short list of such local British species found as may 

 prove interesting to the entomological readers of the ' Zoologist.' The species enu- 

 merated, of course, form but a small portion of the productions of the locality, the 

 bulk of which are generally common in most of the English counties, and are noted 

 chiefly as being of unusual or unexpected occurrence in the Midland district. 



Epaphius Secalis. On the banks of the Trent and Dove, coursing about at the roots 

 of herbage. 



Ocys melanocephalus. In old willow-stumps, banks of the Dove. 



Peryphus femoratus. Under pebbles on the gravelly margins of the river Dove, in 

 abundance. This species is generally rare in the Midland counties. 



Peryphus albipes. In old willow-stumps and under sediment on the banks of the 

 Dove : altogether six specimens have occurred. 



Peryphus viridiceneus. On sloping shingly banks of the Dove, in profusion. 



Peryphus atrocceruleus. In equal abundance with the preceding, in the same situ- 

 ations. 



Tachypus striatus. Also on shingly banks of the Dove, but more sparingly than 

 the two preceding species. 



Haliplus flavicollis, Au., ferrugineus, Ste. In ponds ; two specimens. 



Hydroporus assimilis, Pk., f rater, Ste. In ponds ; one specimen. 



Ilybius fenestratus, obscurus and ater. In ponds. These three species are appa- 

 rently generally common in the Midland counties. 



Octhebius exsculptus, Muller (Mills. Palpicornes), viridiceneus, Curtis. One speci- 

 men ; banks of Trent. 



Helophorus rugosus, Oliv. (Muls. Palpicornes). Banks of the Dove ; one specimen. 

 I am not sure whether the Fennicus of Stephens is the same species as the present one, 

 the sculpture of the thorax not at all agreeing with the description given in the 

 Manual. 



Berosus luridus. In ponds; one specimen. 



Scaphiosoma agaricinum. In Boleti, on old willow -stumps. 



Silpha quadripunctata. Several specimens on oaks, and by sweeping at Repton 

 Shrubs, June. This is usually a scarce insect in the Midland counties. 



Campta lutea. On umbelliferous flowers ; not generally uncommon in the neigh- 

 bourhood of woods in the Midland counties. 



Atomaria mesomelas and others. On old willow-stumps covered with Boleti. 



Megatoma undata. On palings near woods ; several specimens. 



Onthophagus ovatus. Ten specimens, in sheep-dung on a hilly pasture. Tin's is 

 the only instance of the occurrence of this very common South-of-England species in 

 the Midland counties. The only other Onthophagi found within the Midland dis- 

 trict, that I am aware of, are camobita and nuchicornis ; the former very local in dry 

 VI G 



