iSgi.] 



THE BRITISH NATURALIST. 



127 



quart jar being the size suggested. In the centre of the funnel a 

 light is placed, to be visible on the open side. This attracts the 

 beetles, which coming against the opposite side will fall into the cham- 

 ber of death below. The inventor states that there will always be a 

 few Lepidoptera and Neuroptera spoiled by friction in the jar, but 

 Hymenoptera, Hemiptera, and Orthoptera will be in good condition 

 as well as Coleoptera. He considers it the best trap for Coleoptera 

 yet introduced, and speaks of enormous numbers being obtained night- 

 ly by it. He strongly recommends its use, and asks those who 

 try it to report results. Perhaps some of our large circle of Coleop- 

 terist readers will try it. It is neither elaborate nor costly. Should 

 anyone not understand from the above how to make it, we will be glad 

 to lend the Magazine. 



Heterocerns britannicus, Kuwert, a new British Cole- 

 optera. — The Revd. W. W. Fowler, in E.M.M. for May, quotes 

 Kuwert's description of this little beetle. It is not usual for British 

 Entomologists to overlook a novelty, but the Austrian Coleopterist 

 has been before them this time. Mr. Fowler found a specimen in his 

 own collection, sent him from Dumfries as H. sevicans which proves to 

 be the new species. Mr. Fowler also states that the H . fusctihts , Kies. 

 of our lists appear to be pidchelliis, Kies., and that it is doubhtful 

 whether we have fusciiliis at all. 



Birds using their feet for steering. — Now and then we hear it 

 asserted that birds use their feet for steering. We doubt, however, 

 whether anyone ever had the fortune to witness this curious use, so 

 plainly as Mr. Spears, of Nev^ York, did during a late voyage to 

 Greenland. He says it was quite a common thing for an Arctic tern 

 to pose itself on a windy day directly above the taff-rail, and hold that 

 position, regardless of the speed of the vessel, for from eight to ten 

 minutes, in the meantime examining everything abaft the the house, 

 apparently with a critical eye. When satisfied with the inspection, it 

 would with a quick motion, lower one of its black-webbed feet, with 

 the web across the line of flight. The effect of this was exactly the 

 same as that of a ship's rudder. When the left foot was dropped, 

 the bird turned to port ; when the right, it turned to starboard. 

 If the foot w^as lowered only a little, as was sometimes done, the 

 .bird turned slightly ; when lower straight down and spread wide 

 out, the bird turned almost as if on a pivot. When the bird w^as 



