LS90. 



39 



" land localities this melanic form is so common. Its name infers a 

 " wet locality, but I have found it on dry moors, far removed from 

 " water ; it is also found in hollows on the coast sandhills " (Cheshire). 

 Mr. Gillo has never " detected it in the Bath district, but found it 

 " sparingly at Clevedon and Burnham. I have never observed that 

 '• the species of this genus are partial to wet or damp localities, as 

 " the names seem to imply." Dr. Ellis says "common on the sand- 

 " hills and in heathy places." Taken by Mr. Wilding on Wallasey 

 sandhills and at Llangollen. Mr. Robson also finds it at Hartlepool. 



N. palustris. — Rather shorter than the preceding species, with 

 sides of thorax more rounded in front and contracted behind. I have 

 found it fairly common at Tottenham and elsewhere. Mr. Wilding 

 takes it at Wallasey and Llangollen ; Mr. Newbery, at Coombe, Deal, 

 and Wimbledon ; Mr. Bennett, " running on pathways etc., and 

 ••generally common in Hastings district.'" Mr. W. E. Sharp has 

 •• found this a commoner species than atjuaticus, but also in elevated 

 '• situations ; very plentiful in Flintshire mountains, also at Thurstas- 

 '• ton and Helsly in Cheshire." In Bath district, " N. palustris seems 

 " more partial to fields" (R. Gillo). 



N. biguttntus, Fab. — Probably the commonest beetle in England, 

 and not confined to moist situ itions ; occurs in gardens, fields, etc., 

 and runs quickly in the sunshine. Reported by all correspondents as 

 very common — Bath, Hastings, Liverpool, Farnham (Surrey), Chat- 

 ham, Croydon, etc. " Seems to have been specially abundant this 

 year, 1887" (W. E. Sharp, Chester). 



N. quadripunctatus, Dej. — Called \-guttatus in Coleopteva of British 

 Islands. I received my specimens from Mr. West (Greenwich), who 

 informs me that the " pores" vary in position. It is a moot point as 

 to whether this form is entitled to specific rank, as biguttntus '^some- 

 times occurs with one impression on one side and two on the other, 

 " which led Mr. Crotch to suggest what is now pretty generally 

 "believed, that ^-punctatus is simply an accidental form of biguttatus" 

 (Dr. Ellis). " Seems to be a variety of biguttatus rather than a distinct 

 "species" (W. E. Sharp). "Occurs rarely on banks of reservoir at 

 " Ecclesbourne, and in rubbish and at roots of grass at Fairlight " 

 (W. H. Bennett). A specimen taken by Mr. Gillo (Bath) " has two 

 " distinct impressions on one elytron and only one on the other." 



My friend Mr. West, who takes a great interest in this genus, 



