098 



Insects. 



first and base of the second, red. Thus its habits are similar to those of the Pompili- 

 dae, all of which, as far as I have observed, provision their nests with spiders ; whilst 

 the species of the genus Ammophila, including Miscus carapestris, I have always ob- 

 served preying upon caterpillars ; although Mr. Shuckard remarks, that he always ob- 

 served them to prey upon spiders, which to me is a remarkable fact, as I have seen 

 them in numberless instances, but invariably with caterpillars. I also captured Pom- 

 pilus pulcher, Miscus campestris, Andrena Rosa? (thirteen specimens), and one male 

 and two females of Halictus sex-notatus : I do not know that the latter insect has been 

 previously taken, except by Mr. Kirby, at Barham. — Frederick Smith ; High. street, 

 Newington, June 17, 1844. 



Note on the capture of Coleoptera at Stirling. Perhaps the following list of Cole- 

 optera, selected from captures in the neighbourhood of Stirling, this summer, from 

 May 20 to July 10, may be worthy of insertion in ' The Zoologist.' Great part of the 

 season has been very unfavourable for collecting, or doubtless I should have done bet- 

 ter. I have included iu the list a few species which are common in most parts of 

 England, but which I have never before taken in plenty in Scotland. I may here 

 mention, that in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh I have noticed easterly winds to 

 have a remarkable effect on the appearance of insects ; so much so, that I have rarely 

 taken a species of any value when the wind was in that quarter. This is probably ow- 

 ing to its vicinity to the sea, as in this part of the country, which is more sheltered, I 

 have not observed the weather to have the same influence, or at least to a very small 

 extent. One or two of my best captures this year were taken when there was a strong 

 east wind. 



Leiodes humeralis. Under bark of decay- 

 ing fir-stumps, along with two or three 

 species of Agathidium, June 1. 



Ips 4-punctata. Nine or ten specimens ta- 

 ken by sweeping, in an oak wood. 



— ferruginea. Under bark of Scotch fir, 

 rare, June 15. 



Rhyzophagus ferrugineus and dispar. Ta- 

 ken with the last. 



Throscus dermestoides. In oak woods, not 

 common, June and July. 



Athous niger. In oak woods, July. 



Campylus linearis. In oak and fir woods, 

 middle of June. 



Telephorus chjpeatus p Occasionally ta- 

 ken from May 20 to end of June. 



obscurus. In fir-woods, not 



uncommon. I never met with this spe- 

 cies in the Edinburgh district. May 



and June. 

 cyaneus 



Seven 



specimens : 

 this species is generally taken flying in 

 very hot sunny weather; it is very ac- 

 tive and difficult to capture : June. 

 Ragonycha pilosa. Most of my specimens 



were taken by sweeping in fir-woods : 



June 27 to July 10. 

 Malthinus Jlaveolus. In oak woods, end 



of June. 

 Cis Boleti. Occasional : May and June. 

 Hylastes ater and obscurus. Under bark 



of Scotch fir ; June. 

 Mecinus semicylindricus. Rare; June 27. 

 Cceliodes Geranii. On Geranium praten- 



se, May 30. 

 Nedyus fioralis and rugulosus. A single 



specimen of each. 

 viduatus, Gyll. Rare and extreme- 

 ly local ; only taken at one end of a 



small oak wood, by the side of the road 



from Stirling to the Bridge of Alla« ; 



June 7 to July 7. 

 Ceutorhynchus guttula. A single specimen 



July 1. 

 Rhinoncus Pericarpius and 4-tuberculatus. 



Both species apparently uncommon in 



this vicinity. 

 Dorytomus vorax, with one or two other 



species, on poplars in some abundance, 



June 15. 



