THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



259 



S. bipustulatus and S. marginaius were also represented. May 13th. — When 

 passing along a path by the river I noticed some old Stonesfield slates that 

 had been recently put there to repair the pathway, and found by working 

 among them Clivina collaris and Cryptohypnus riparius abundantly, Ancho- 

 menus oblongus and others in any quantity ; and I also found Prasocuris mar- 

 ginellus congregated on the plants by the water. 



May 15th. — Left Bath for a fortnight's visit to the seaside, the place 

 selected being Burnham, a small watering-place at the mouth of the river 

 Parrit, near Weston-super-mare. Here there are good sands and extensive 

 sand-hills (locally called " Tots.") These proved excellent collecting ground. 

 Under seaweed Philontlius xantlioloma and Bembidium pallidipenne were 

 very abundant ; Byschirius impunctipennis was running about, often dragg- 

 ing along a minute " staph 33 ; Metabletm foveola, P Valeria cadaverina and 

 the fierce Broscus cephalotes were very common. On the " Tots " Calathus 

 mollis and C.flavipes, Lacon murinus, Notoxus monoceros, Heliopathes gibbus, 

 JEgialia arenaria and Cneorhinus geminatus occurred in profusion; and 

 Sitones griseus, Rarpalus anxius, Microzoum tibiale and Limonius cylindricus 

 were commonly to be seen, vainly trying to crawl up the loose sand. I also 

 took four Psammodius sulcicollis and several Amara fulva. In dung Ap/io- 

 dius inquinatus, scybalarius, subterraneus, hcemorroidalis, fimetarius, aier, 

 fossor, pusillus, merdarius, erraticus and luridus were more or less common, 

 and OnthopJiagus fracticornis aud nuchicornis in abundance. Under dried 

 horse-dung that black speck Carcinops minima was very common, and since 

 it does not move or show any legs, it is difficult to believe that is a beetle 

 until the pocket -lens is brought to bear on it. On examining some dung in a 

 field inland I found one Ontlwphagus vacca, but could not see any more ; how- 

 ever, I noticed that there were extensive flocks of sheep feeding on the Brent 

 Knoll (a round hill about two miles off), and from knowing the outline of 

 the geology of the district I had good reason to suppose that the fields were 

 on the Mitford sand, and as past experience had taught me that the Ontho- 

 phagi prefer sandy soil, and vacca occurred in the neighbourhood, I thought 

 I ought to find it there. The next day I walked over and in the first piece 

 of dung I examined found two. I soon obtained as many as I wished. O. 

 ovatus and Aphodius ater were there in profusion. May 28th. — I noticed 

 Cicindela maritima on the sand Tots ; it occurs here in abundance in June 

 and J uly, but although I have taken numbers I have never seen C. hybrida* 



To be continued, 



