Insects. 4847 



and the Highlands our Alps ; in the southern coasts of England and 

 Ireland our France and Germany : in short, by our natural variety of 

 soil and climate, we have, and in approximating latitudes, many of 

 the peculiar physical characteristics of other countries. 



That investigation may be quickened among us, and that these un- 

 known but interesting groups may receive increased attention, I have, 

 in as few words as possible, described other species, found on the 

 Continent, but at present unrepresented here : I might have extended 

 them numerically, but have introduced (in parentheses and without 

 numerals) those only which I believe may probably be found in this 

 country: the capture of four or jive additional species, without any 

 corresponding effort, during the past year, will show that this antici- 

 pation is not absolutely chimerical. 



It will be understood, then, that this catalogue does not profess to 

 be accurate ; rather, that it professes to be inaccurate ; that it is merely 

 approximating and suggestive; and that criticism, species by species, 

 amendments and corrections, will be welcome proof of its value. 



I have assumed that it will fall into the hands chiefly of those who 

 have some knowledge of our present British species ; I have not 

 therefore described these, and others only relatively by their approxi- 

 mating and distinctive characteristics : in the hope, however, that 

 others may be led to take up the study of these groups, I will add a 

 few suggestions as to practical collecting. The apparatus is simple ; 

 a couple of well-corked, wide-mouthed phials, containing bruised 

 laurel leaves or a few drops of chloroform on blotting-paper ; a water- 

 net of cheese-cloth on a steel hoop of 16 or 18 inches diameter, with 

 joints so as to fold up in the pocket; an oil-skin bag as a cover; and 

 a walking-stick with ferrule, to which the net is screwed, is all that is 

 necessary. 



And as to the localities to be visited — ditches in which are clumps 

 of Sphagnum, or tangled masses of any water-plants; any place, in 

 fact, that affords shelter will be sure to afford insects. I have 

 taken, in Norfolk, a dozen specimens of Colymbetes Grapii at one 

 dip, by securing a handful of hay floating on the top of the water; 

 and in a lake in Scotland I was only successful in taking species by 

 sinking in the water little bundles of grass and heather, and examining 

 them day by day. Water-plants of all kinds, and especially those at 

 the ends of ditches, will repay examination : on the moors and moun- 

 tains species are found in abundance, not only in pools, but in little 

 bits of marsh, where the net must be scraped along the ground in 

 order to get up any water ; rivulets and pebbly brooks have their 



