Insects. 4193 



this year I have only nine pupae out of between thirty and forty larvae. It almost in- 

 variably feeds upon the seeds of Silene inflata, although I have occasionally found it 

 upon the flowers of the double variety of Lychnis dioica, and upon the seeds of Silene 

 nutans. — H. Harpur Crewe; Rossway, near Great Berkhampstead, Herts, November 

 28, 1853. 



Capture of some of the rarer Hydropori in the North of England. 

 By Thomas John Bold, Esq. 



Hydroporus elegans, Illig. I take a strongly marked variety of 

 this common insect in Talkin Tarn, Cumberland. At first sight they 

 much resemble H. 12-pustulatus, being much larger and darker co- 

 loured than the specimens of elegans from running water. Some 

 have the elytra wholly black, except a narrow yellow margin ; others 

 are more or less lineated with yellow ; and scarcely any of them have 

 the spotted appearance characteristic of the species. 



In dredging for this insect, I had a striking proof of an oft-noticed 

 fact, that the " sunny side " of a pond is always the most productive. 

 I worked for upwards of an hour on the north side of the lake (where 

 I once met with it in plenty), but it being then in the shade of the 

 neighbouring pine-trees, I did not get half-a-dozen specimens. On 

 changing to the south and sunny side, however, I soon brought to 

 light a sufficiency to make up for previous disappointment. 



H. rufifrons, Duftsm. = H. piceus, Steph. I have, at different 

 times, taken about a dozen of this conspicuous species. It frequents 

 deep pools, and when secured in the net, marches from amidst the 

 debris with a slow and stately gait. 



H. nigrita, Fab. I know not whether this is in reality a rare spe- 

 cies, or merely local. I have only once met with it, and then most 

 unexpectedly. When broiling under an unclouded sun, on one of 

 the wild Cumberland moors, my friend and I drew towards a spring, 

 with the bibbing intentions of thirsty sportsmen ; but our dogs having 

 like propensities (though not so alcoholic), and a better local know- 

 ledge, getting there before us, soon rendered the water unfit for human 

 consumption. On trying my net, I found that the well was tenanted, 

 almost exclusively, by H. nigrita, which appeared to be confined to it ; 

 for although I tried many of the pools in its neighbourhood, not an 

 individual could I find elsewhere. 



H. Gyllenhalii, Schibdte, = H. rufifrons, Steph. 



H. tristis, Payk. 



H. obscurus, Sturm, = H. umbrosus, Steph. 



