1898 Insects. 



so much prized throughout Europe for its rarity, was in actual profusion ; in company 

 with which, the minute Tachys scutellaris and Anthicus humilis were scarcely less 

 abundant. In the same localities, though more sparingly, I met with Pogonus Burrelii, 

 chalceus and littoralis, which, together with Notaphus ustulatus and Lopha pusilla, 

 might be seen running in and out of the crevices formed by the heat of the sun upon 

 the mud ; while a few drags of my sweeping-net brought to light Octhebius marinus 

 and hibernicus, by hundreds, from the brackish waters of the surrounding pools. The 

 Hemiptera were also tolerably abundant, particularly the large Acanthia littoralis, 

 which made itself excessively conspicuous by bounding over the flats. The commoner 

 insects I need scarcely mention ; suffice it to observe that many of them, such as Dys- 

 chirius gibbus, Adelosia picea, and Aphodius heemorrhoidalis, were exceedingly nume- 

 rous : and I can only repeat what I before stated, that I know of no district in England 

 on so small a scale which would be more likely to produce a greater number of novel- 

 ties, or which would more amply repay the exertions of an entomological investigation. 

 — T. Vernon Wollaston ; Jesus College, Cambridge, August 1, 1847. 



Capture of Lymnceum areolatum in North Wales. — I have great pleasure in record- 

 ing the capture of this very rare and interesting little insect, about a dozen specimens 

 of which were taken by myself at Bettws-y-coed, in North Wales, during the last week 

 in July. Its habits are precisely the same as those of its generic brother, nigro- 

 piceum, which Mr. Dawson has captured so abundantly in the Isle of Wight, and 

 which I have myself taken, while in company with him, in the same locality. At the 

 junction of the River Llugwy with the Conway there is a small shingly beach, sloping 

 for about three feet, at an angle of 45°, to the edges of the stream. Whilst searching 

 there for Tachypus striatus and some species of Peryphi (three of which — atro-caeruleus, 

 nigro-aeneus and tibialis — are excessively abundant), I was fortunate enough to secure 

 a specimen of Lymnseum areolatum, basking under a stone. For a week I visited the 

 same spot incessantly, and, though I searched most assiduously for hours together, I 

 could procure in all only about a dozen specimens. They inhabit the moist shingle, 

 and seldom come to the surface, except now and then during the heat of the day, when 

 they may be seen occasionally just to expose themselves to view, and dart down again 

 with the rapidity of lightning. Their minute size, added to the excessive quickness 

 of their movements, renders it exceedingly difficult to secure them, even when seen, — 

 for unless they are pounced upon immediately, in an instant they are gone, and are 

 almost sure to be lost amongst the shingle. If I am not mistaken, the only recorded 

 instance of its occurrence in this country was on Dudden Sands, near Broughton, in 

 Lancashire, where it was captured many years ago by Mr. Dale, of Glanville's Woot- 

 ton.—Id., August 28, 1847. 



Extraordinary Quantity of Coccinellce. — In walking out into a part of Romney 

 Marsh, in the neighbourhood of this town, I was surprised to observe vast multitudes 

 of an insect that we used familiarly to call lady-birds : they covered the ground more 

 or less for the whole of my walk, climbing up everything that rose perpendicularly 

 therefrom, being especially thick near and upon the wooden posts and rails used to 

 fence off the property in the marsh. It was and had been blowing rather a stiff 

 breeze from the east and north-east; and I noticed that these insects chose the side 

 most sheltered from the wind, getting into and filling all chasms and cracks in the 

 wood, and always especially numerous on the top of the posts, giving them the ap- 

 pearance of being studded with brass-headed nails. Imagine this for miles, and then 

 some estimate maybe formed of their countless multitudes. Perhaps some of the 



