356 Mr. H. Donisthorpe on 



Omosita. 



Our three species of Omosita live on old bones, half- 

 dried-up carcases, etc. Their colours are well adapted to 

 harmonise with their environment. 



Meligethes. 



Mr. Holland suggests that the genus Meligethes and its 

 allies, and in fact all the small flower-frequenting species, 

 might well be passed over as anthers on the stamens of 

 the flowers. 



Ips. 



Our three species of Ips are all black insects spotted 

 with yellow and may suggest Coccinellidte. 



Trogositim:. 



Thymalus limbatus, F. 



This insect is found on boleti on trees and under bark 

 where boleti occur. It has always a mouldy appearance 

 and never looks like a live beetle, but rather like a bit of 

 mouldy bark, or patch of mould. Its shape, when sitting 

 flat against the tree, also increases this resemblance. 



COLYDIIDiE. 



Cicones varicgatus, Hellw. 



This small beetle lives on tree-trunks among dry- 

 powdery black fungi, and its variegated colour renders it 

 indistinguishable from its surroundings. In the New 

 Forest I have found that the best way to take it is, to 

 scrape the parts of trees which seemed most favourable 

 over paper, and then minutely to examine the de'bris. 



Monotomim:. 



Monotonia conicicollis, Aube,and M.formicetorum, Thorns. 



These two beetles, which live in the nest of the wood- 

 ant, Formica rnfa, closely resemble little bits of wood, and 

 this renders them very difficult to detect when motionless 

 amongst the debris of the nest. Father Wasmann sug- 

 gests that by this means they are protected from the ants 

 themselves. 



