Insects. 1999 



Tetrops preeusta. On whitethorn blossoms ; two specimens. Very scarce through- 

 out the Midland counties. 



Galeruca Viburni. On the Viburnum Opulus, in great abundance, September. 



Chrysomela various. Sparingly in woods, by sweeping, from May to October. 



Chrysomela fulgida. In profusion, Bretby Park, July. The only locality for the 

 insect that I am aware of in Leicestershire and Derbyshire. 



Chrysomela lamina. Meadows, banks of Trent ; chiefly found during floods, about 

 Midsummer. 



Chrysomela geminala. Three small copper-coloured specimens, in woods, October. 



Chrysomela pallida. This species, hitherto generally found in the North and in 

 Scotland, was taken by Mr. Edwin Brown (the captor of many other species in this 

 list), on the hazel, in great abundance, July and August. 



Chrysomela rufipes. On young shoots of aspen, in woods, July, abundant. 



Abdera quadrifasciala. One specimen, by sweeping, Kepton Shrubs, July. 



Pselaphus Heisii. Amongst sediment, banks of the Dove. 



Tychus niger. Same situation as the preceding. This species appears to be the 

 most generally common of the Pselaphidae in the Midland district. 



Bryaxis hcematica. Two specimens, in company with the above. 



Besides the species enumerated in the preceding list, there are several we are obli- 

 ged to omit, from the difficulty of ascertaining their correct names. The vicinity of 

 Burton, like the greater part of the Midland, district (including the South of Stafford- 

 shire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, all Leicestershire and the South and East of 

 Warwickshire), possesses a stiff marly soil, which, although favourable to a rich mea- 

 dow vegetation, yields but a limited number of species of insects. Our best grounds 

 are the rich meadows and flowery banks that accompany the course of the Trent, and 

 the oak and hazel woods in the neighbourhood of the river. The banks of the Dove, 

 near its junction with the Trent, yield many peculiar species, from the soil being of a 

 lighter character, chiefly alluvial sand and gravel. The names used above are those 

 of Stephens' Manual, except when otherwise indicated. — H. W. Bates ; Burton-on- 

 Trent, November 9, 1847. 



Capture of Buprestis mauritanica in Plaistow Marshes. — I have a beautiful species 

 of Buprestis captured on an oak post in Plaistow marshes on September 9th : it was 

 taken alive to the British Museum for the purpose of getting it named. It proves to 

 be the Ancylocheira Mauritanica, Lucas (Voy. d'Algerie). When taken the elytra 

 were quite soft, showing that it was bred near the spot were it was captured. — F. 

 Bond. 



On the Geographical Distribution of the Cetoniada. — There are in Africa 71 genera 

 of this family, of which 54 are peculiar ; in Madagascar 23, peculiar 21 ; Asia 41, pe- 

 culiar 22 ; Australia 8, peculiar 4 ; America 22, peculiar 17 ' ; Europe 9, peculiar none. 

 Thus Africa seems to be the metropolis of the Cetoniadoe, especially if we were to in- 

 clude Madagascar. The most widely-spread genus is Valgus, which is found in all 

 these districts except Madagascar. The number of African species is 220 ; Mada- 

 gascar 62 ; Asiatic 181 ; Australian 26 ; American 152; European 31. — J. W. Slater. 



Note on Aphodius contaminatus. — The species of Aphodii observe succession in the 

 period of their appearance, and while A. inquinatus is somewhat of the earliest, A. 

 contaminatus completes the cycle, being sometimes found to brave the frosts of Janu- 

 ary. The immense profusion of this species in the autumn has been alluded to by 

 Kirby and Spence, in their 'Introduction to Entomology.' In the sunshine succeeding 



