2000 Insects. 



to warm showers, they fill the air, like bees at swarming time. Besides being the food 

 of several species of Philonthi, they are eagerly sought after by birds of various kinds. 

 A short time since, the missel thrush and the rook might be seen consorting to parti- 

 cipate in the profuse supply ; and the sea-gull will sometimes spend an entire day in 

 the pursuit amid the cattle pastures. In the month of August, large flocks of the lap- 

 wing, in company with another sandy-coloured whimpering bird, frequented the East 

 Lothian coast, where this insect appeared to be the principal attraction ; now they 

 have recourse to the uplands, where it is still prevalent. The plovers have recently 

 joined them, but I have not made any observation as to what they feed upon. — James 

 Hardy ; Penmanshiel, Cockburnspath, Berwickshire, October 5, 1847. 



Occurrence of Sphcerites ylabratus in Scotland. — It may be interesting to British 

 entomologists to know that Sphaerites glabratus has again occurred as a Scottish in- 

 sect. I took a single specimen among decaying herbage, in a shady glen in Penman- 

 shiel Wood, about two weeks since. It has the habits of a Hister, which it much 

 resembles. — Id. 



Habits of Blemus pallidus. — This insect, which resembles Aepus in its shelly, flat- 

 tened body, appears to be of somewhat similar habits. I took some specimens under 

 shingle laid under water by a small rill, on a wild, rocky beach, on the Berwickshire 

 coast. Anchomenus albipes and Peryphus saxatilis were its accompaniments, and 

 with Quedius umbrinus, Lathrobium longulum, and the variety of Quedius fulgidus 

 with red elytra, were almost the only coleopterous tenants of the barren spot. — Id. 



Unusual Habitat for Pristonychus Terricola. — Of this insect, usually abounding in 

 cellars, I found an individual under a stone, on a sandy part of the coast near Cock- 

 burnspath, more than a mile from any dwelling, and with little apparent means of 

 intermediate communication. Near it also was found Quedius fulgidus, the black va- 

 riety, also a native of cellars ; and a species of Bledius new to the Scottish Fauna, 

 which, although common on many of the British shores, does not yet appear to have 

 been at least correctly described. — Id. 



Insectivorous Propensity of Notoxus Monoceros. — Collectors soon learn, by sad ex- 

 perience, the ill effects of placing the larger Geodephaga, Brachelytra, &c, along 

 with other species, their unhappy taste for dissection proving extremely detrimental 

 to their bottle companions ; but as some may not be aware that the little Notoxus Mo- 

 noceros has similar evil propensities, I record the following incident as a salutary cau- 

 tion. While collecting at Ryde last summer, I put some Notoxi along with several 

 Ischnomera lurida and other species in my bottle. On my return, I observed a No- 

 toxus very busy about one of the Ischnomerae, and, on closer examination, discovered 

 that he was engaged in nibbling away the last-named insect's elytra : that it was not 

 the freak of an individual appeared from his being shortly joined by three others, 

 who immediately rendered all the assistance in their power, the Ischnomera standing 

 perfectly still the while, as if the sensation was rather pleasing than otherwise. I have 

 kept the specimen, in which both the elytra are eaten away nearly to the shoulder. — 

 George Guy on ; Ventnor, Isle of Wight, November 9, 1847. 



Occurrence of the Locust near Hull. — Having seen your notice in the 'Zoologist' 

 (Zool. 1900), requesting information concerning the occurrence of the locust, I beg to 

 inform you of throe, two of which were captured last year on the banks of the Hum- 

 ber, at Hessle, near Hull, and the other was taken this year at Kingerby, Lincoln- 

 shire. — E. Peacock; Messingham, Lincolnshire, November, 1847. 



Occurrence of the Locust in Cambridgeshire. — As you wish to know of the occur- 



