1572 Insects. 



And it is curious to observe how almost exactly they coincide with 

 the species noticed by Mr. Haliday in the north of Ireland, in the 

 stream between Toome Bridge and Lough Beg. 



In the mountain tarns the species were even less numerous, — never- 

 theless the number of specimens was prodigious. On the mountain 

 called Cromaglaun, about six miles from Killarney, (on which in a 

 former number of ( the Zoologist,' I described having taken that very 

 rare and beautiful little shell, the Amphipeplea involuta) I was greatly 

 struck at the enormous quantity of specimens which these small 

 alpine lakes produce. Nevertheless the only species I could discover 

 were the following, which are pretty much the same as those which 

 are found in all the similar positions : Hygrotus scitulus, Haliplus 

 lineato-collis, Hydroporus palustris, erythrocephalus, rufifrons and 

 nigrita, Laccobius globosus, Gyrinus substriatus and marinus. 



If we turn to the land species of this district, we at once find the 

 great preponderance which the commoner Geodephaga display, — a 

 race which, next to the Hydradephaga, rank undoubtedly foremost 

 in point of numbers. For instance under the large blocks of stone 

 and at the damp roots of the trees on the sides of the mountain, we 

 find abundance of Cychrus rostratus, Helobia brevicollis, Agonum pa- 

 rumpunctatum, Badister bipustulatus, Synuchus vivalis, Omaseus 

 nigrita, Harpalus ruficornis, Argutor vernalis, Trechus minutus, brun- 

 nipes, and the like. On the banks of the Lower Lake a very interest- 

 ing insect occurred to me, but unfortunately I could only obtain a 

 single specimen. This was the Nebria borealis. Mr. Haliday has 

 been accustomed for some years past to capture it in the north of 

 Ireland, on the sandy shores of Lough Neagh, which was I believe 

 the only recorded locality in the United Kingdom, having been first 

 discovered by Mr. Patterson. It is therefore with much pleasure that 

 I find it so far south as the Lakes of Killarney. Being at the time 

 unacquainted with the insect and taking it for a small specimen of 

 Blethisa, I had placed it in my cabinet under that name without ex- 

 amination. It would have there remained in obscurity had not my 

 attention been called to it by Mr. Haliday a short time ago, who 

 kindly sent mc examples from his northern locality and pointed out 

 the distinctions. I was also much gratified at finding the remains of 

 my old friend Cossonus Tardii in this remote locality. Near the old 

 Weir Bridge, at the entrance of the channel at the Upper Lake, are 

 a quantity of decayed hollies, — several of which I found infested with 

 the dead carcases of Cossonus. It is a singular fact that this insect 

 lias not yet been discovered in any part of the continent of Europe. 



