1848.] Notice on the Coleoptera of Hong Kong. 207 



were recognised are a fine Galerita, several Chlsenii, three species of 

 Helluo, a Panagoeus, several large Pherosophi (Brachinidse), a Clivina, 

 Dyschirius, Casnonia, and Agra or Leptotracheilus. The beetles be- 

 longing to Badister, the Amarae and Harpalidae, are of small size. The 

 largest Carabideous form has much the appearance of Omaseus — it is 

 thirteen lines long. Including the Tiger Beetles and their allies, with 

 Carabideous Beetles, Hong Kong cannot produce much under three score 

 of species ; a very large number for a small island, the geographical 

 position of which is tropical. The Carabideous genera are the most 

 abundant of all the insect tribes during winter in Hong Kong, some 

 forms commencing to appear with autumn. In April they are very abun- 

 dant, and t still find a few in May. They now however give place to 

 the Cicindelidae, none of which are found here during winter. Of Cicin- 

 dela Mr. Bowring mentions ten species ; Colliuris longicollis, is found at 

 this season on the flowers of Bauhinia Vahlii(?) W. and A. Tricon- 

 dyla pulchripes (White) on Litchee Trees, differing in habit from its 

 congeners, by being found on trees, not at their roots. It is apterous, 

 like other species. A small species of Lebia and of Brachinus is found 

 on flowers. Scarites has not hitherto been found in the Island, and 

 Calosoma and Carabus proper are probably confined to Northern China. 



Water beetles are abundant in pools of water during the spring months, 

 and comprise genera from the giant Trochalus to the more minute 

 but still interesting forms. At the same season Coprophagous Insects, 

 are abundant. Onthophagi, armed cap a pie, yielding in interest to few 

 of the Indian species, and so numerous that I believe fifty species in an 

 estimate were no exaggeration. Copris, Onitis, Hister and Aphodius, 

 as might be expected, and parhaps the largest known species of Sisyphus 

 on record — the S. Bowringii (White), remarkable for the extraordinary 

 spinal projections from its coxae. Similar spines occur in S. senegalensis. 



The Brachelytreous genera are far from abundant, and the forms 

 small ; one of the largest is a small Emus, 6 lines long. 



Of other families of insects the mass are found at the commencement 

 of summer and during the summer rains, between April and August. 

 Disselicus Can tori is found in Hong Kong as well as in Chusan. There 

 are many interesting species belonging to the Melolonthideous or Ceto- 

 nideous genera, and those soft -bodied insects, amongst which Lampyris, 

 Cebrio, Malachius, &c, are classed. An Atractocerus is of very rare 



2 H 



