28 



THE BRltlSH NATURALIST. 



[FebkuarV 



and, as the blossom scatters, the pale green foliage is seen peeping 

 from the stems and branches in all directions. Nature is rejoicing 

 again in the glad sunshine, and the coleopterist goes forth seeking to 

 unravel her secrets. Spring glides imperceptibly into Summer, and 

 gay flowerets and brilliant foliage meet our gaze as we wander through 

 the meadows and lanes, or by the streams, searching the different 

 plants for the various insects found thereon. Summer deepens 

 into Autumn; when red leaves quickly bestrew the ground, and we 

 observe with regret how the evening twilight gathersin earlier and earlier 

 from week to week; then Winter comes, with its rude gales and snow- 

 storms, and we betake ourselves to the firesideand examine specimens put 

 by for determination at the off-time of the year. It is then, perhaps, 

 that we ask ourselves "What have I accomplished this season?" 

 It is also at this period that the assistance of the experienced 

 naturalist is most needed, as the task of differentiating species is often 

 so difficult, that older opinions than our own are of great help in this 

 matter. We trust that this assistance will always be readily granted 

 to .our youn»g friends, who, by thus acquiring fresh knowledge, will 

 also, in their turn, be able to assist other students. Wishing our 

 readers every success in the coming year, I will now pass on to the 

 subjects usually considered in these Notes. 



The next genera, following the order of Sharp's catalogue, are 

 Lionychus and Lebia. It may be as well here to refer to the classifi- 

 cation in Canon F'owler's " Coleoptera of the British Islands." The 

 genus Lionychus in the latter work is included in the group Lebiina 

 ftlie genus Lebia being the first in order), as also are Dromms^ 

 Aetophonis, Demetvias, Metabletiis, and Blechvus. Dr. Sharp, however, 

 gives Lionychus tlie preference to Lebia, following immediately with 

 Cyniindis, Masoreus, Loviceva, &c. Tliat the order laid down by Fowler 

 is the more correct, will, I think, be generally admitted, but as these 

 authorities differ in tlieir methods of classification, it will hardly suit 

 our purpose to discuss the merits of either. 



Lionychus, Wissman. —The name of this genus is derived from 

 two Greek words, meaning " smooth claw," referring to the tarsal 

 Claws, which are smootii and simple. But one species, quadvillum, 

 Duft., inhabits this country. It is found chiefly in marshy places on 

 the coast, under stones, &c., and is not a common beetle. Taken by 

 }Jr. Champion at Whitstable (Kent), and by Mr. J. J. Walker at 

 Sheerness. Fowler also gives Slapton Ley (Devon), Lymington, 

 K.iincli rfe W'uo'.l { Scaii)orougii i, and Southend. 



Li::bia, L-itreiile. - Pr'jl):d)l}' irurn Greek word, meaning a cauldron 

 or basin, and per iaps refers to the rounded shape of the elytra. Dr. 

 Sharp enumerates four species, viz.: crnx-iniuor, hcBinovvhoidalis, 



