THE YOUNG NATUEALIST. 



271 



sport, for I took here in the short time I had at my disposal : Dyschirius 

 globosus (6), Cassida equestris (22), Chrysomela polita (10), Lagria hirta (2), 

 Cteniopus sulphureus (2), Prasocuris phellandrii, Anomala Frischii, Hyper a 

 punctata, &c. I found a pond close by, but as 1 had only fifteen minutes to 

 spare I did not get much, only Agahus bipuslulatus, Colymbetes fuscus and 

 Hydroporus lineatus, A boy who lived near told me that he had often caught 

 with his hand a beetle that made a noise, and from his description I knew it 

 to be Pelobius Hermanni, but I was not fortunate enough to catch one. The 

 Aphodiidae to be seen in dung were scybalarius 3 Jimetarius,foeteus t rufescens, 

 and rufipes. Aug. 15th. — I took Carabus monilis and nemoralis; This 

 was the first time I had met with either of these species in this district, al- 

 though C. violaceus is tolerably common and C. catenulatus more so. I 

 found Rarpalus azurcm abundantly, and of rupicola, one specimen ; also 

 Taphria nivalis, I placed some fish refuse as baits for Silphidce, &c. Aug. 

 24th. — A day's excursion to Clevedon. A scorching hot day and beetles 

 were not abundant. I found Dichirotrichus pubescens and Pogonus chaleeus 

 in some quantity, but Philonthus fucicola I could not find, although I have 

 met with it here under seaweed in profusion. Xantholinus tricolor also occurs 

 here freely, but on this occasion I only found one. Ocypus ater is common 

 under stones and debris on the beach, and the specimens are usually very 

 large. Aug. 28th. — I examined baits, the result being Necrophorus humator 

 (2), interruplus (2), ruspator (4), vespillo (11), Silpha rugosa (1), and a lot 

 of Philonthus aneus, Choleva, &c. Aug. 31. — A day's excursion to the 

 Forest of Dean. Unfortunately, it turned out wet, and collecting was miser- 

 able work. Pterostichm oblongopunctatus and Anchomenus junceus were 

 very common, also Patrobus excavatus. I took Cychrus rostratus and Phil- 

 onthus puella. I dug out a good many Geotrupes from under dung, hoping 

 to find sylvaticus, but they all turned out to be spiniger and stercorarius. 

 The Aphodiidse were rufipes, and a few fimetarius and depressus. 



I have noted most of those that seem important to me, though doubtless, 

 many are common and not worth mentioning, but I do think that it is only 

 by recording captures in various localities, and noting the date and conditions 

 — geological, botanical, or otherwise — under which they were found, that 

 anything like a clue to the distribution of beetles will ever be obtained. In 

 conclusion, I should like to impress upon all novices (one of whom I con- 

 sider myself) the importance of keeping an extensive diary, and writing down 

 everything. I feel sure that a good deal is not recorded because it is not 

 thought worth making a note of it at the time, which in after years would be 

 most useful. 



1 6, Lambridge Plw x Bath. 



