Cases of Protective Resemblance, Mimicry, etc. 347 



have large white spots on a black ground, which makes 

 them very conspicuous. He suspects the acrid ejection 

 is the character which defends them, together with their 

 powerful mandibles. 



Nebria complanata, L. 



This large beetle which is very noticeable in a cabinet 

 drawer, is by no means so in its natural environment. 

 The colour, yellow with black stripes on the back, makes 

 it very hard to see when partly covered by the sand in 

 which it lives. This I experienced when searching for 

 the beetle at Braunton Burrows. On being disturbed 

 it rushes very quickly to hide itself again. Mr. Holland 

 says, " When beaten from its hiding-places in the sands 

 great sharpness is necessary if all the disturbed individuals 

 are to be caught." 



Maphrus. 



All the species of Maphrus have rugged elytra, and 

 their metallic colour makes them almost invisible 

 when motionless on the wet mud they frequent. This 

 was especially noticeable in E. uliginosus, F., when in 

 company with several other Coleopterists I found it in 

 numbers at Lymington Salterns. The most successful 

 results were obtained by tramping about on the mud and 

 walking towards the water, when the beetles, running 

 before us, were more easily seen. 



Clivina and Dyschirius. 



All the species of these genera are somewhat ant-like in 

 appearance. Mr. Holland says " the gregarious ones look 

 at first sight like a company of ants." It may be worth 

 while to mention that Crowther recorded in the Entomo- 

 logist's Monthly Magazine (Vol. xv, 1878, p. 19), the 

 occurrence of Clivina fossor in numbers with Lasius flavus. 



Broscus cephalotes, L. 



This is a fairly large black beetle and is found on the 

 coast, where it burrows in the sand, and hides under 

 stones and refuse. When frightened it often puts itself 

 into the most extraordinary attitudes, its legs stretched 



