1868 Insects. 



Phycita bincevella. Two. 



Oncocera carnella. Nine. 



Hipparchia Galaihea, and Polyommatus Corydon and Adonis were in great num- 

 bers, and a few of P. Alsus. 



I captured the above under the cliffs, on the south-east side of the island ; there is 

 great difficulty attending it, owing to the huge masses of stone lying about in all di- 

 rections it is quite impossible to give chase, but one must content ones-self with catching 

 what one can as they up from between the rocks. Entomologizing in this island is 

 the most fatiguing I ever experienced. 



On the Chesil Bank, in two hours, under stones, I captured amongst others the 

 following Coleoptera ; it is the richest locality for Harpalideous insects I think I ever 

 met with : — 



Dromius fasciatus. Six. 



Licinus Silphoides. Three. 



Harpalus serripes. Two. 



„ piger and anxius. In plenty ; and two or three other species. 



Actephilus vernalis. Two. 



Masoreus luxatus. Forty-four. 



Micronyx Jungermannice. One. 



Otiorhynchus rugifrons. Six. 



Anthicus ater. Eight. And many others more generally distributed. 



I regret I had so little time to investigate so rich and interesting a locality as this 

 island, as T am certain, from its appearance, it would produce many rarities, and no 

 doubt some novelties. — Samuel Stevens ; King Street, Covent Garden, August, 1847. 



Queries respecting Flies. — I wish to bring before the notice of your readers what ap- 

 pears to me rather a singular fact. The ceiling of the room in which I am now sit- 

 ting has not, apparently, been whitened for the last three or four years, and it is, in con- 

 sequence, neither so white nor so level as I take for granted it was when the operation 

 of whitening it had just been performed. Sundry incipient crackings, one or two ves- 

 tiges of recreation in the shape of black candle-marks, and other less artificial discolora- 

 tions, effectually prevent the said ceiling from having anything like a monotonous ap- 

 pearance. The flies, also, have lent their aid in adorning it, and have left indubitable 

 marks here and there of their having occupied the premises at no very distant period. 

 But what I cannot account for, is this. These Jly-stands, as I think we may call them, 

 almost invariably are situated in those parts of the ceiling where the mortar has be- 

 gun to crack, so much so, that one or two such localities have very much the appear- 

 ance of a dingy milky-way. Other parts are comparatively if not altogether free. Can 

 any of your correspondents tell me whether flies are generally thus discriminative in 

 their favours, and, if so, can they suggest the reason why ? 



Now that I have the pen in hand, let me mention another question, to which I can- 

 not find a satisfactory answer. How do flies manage to settle upon the ceiling? How 

 they keep their position there it is supposed we know, but though I have watched I 

 cannot ascertain with certainty how they get their position there. They fly, as bees, 



