140 



THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



[July 



GOSSIPING NOTES ON BRITISH COLEOPTERA, 



By G. A. LEWCOCK. 



VI .—C ARAB I DM— (continued). 



CLIVINA MASOREUS. 



Brachinus, Weber. — Derived from the Greek, meaning "short," 



alluding to the elytra. Dr. Sharp includes three species in this genus, 



but there seems to be a doubt as to whether we really possess more 



than one. These insects are popularly termed "Bombardier Beetles," 



owing to their singular habit of discharging, when alarmed, a small 



quantity of highly volatile fluid from their extremities, which, on 



coming into contact with the air, is converted into bluish vapour-like 

 smoke. 



B. crepitans, L. — A common species at many localities in South 

 of England ; I have not been fortunate in witnessing its explosions, 

 although the beetle sometimes turns up in small companies at 

 Southend. Mr. G. C. Champion, Kent and Surrey Coleoptera, says: — 

 " Found under stones, at roots of grass or chalky hillsides, river 

 " banks, on the coast, &c. Local and common. Kent : Folkestone, 

 " Chatham, Whitstable, Sheerness, Gravesend. Surrey : Reigate, 

 " Forest Hill, Gomshall, Mickleham, Ripley." Mr. C. G. Hall finds it 

 " sometimes abundantly in chalky places (Dover and Deal), under 

 " clods, grass. &c. ; it is, however, local and sporadic, and one cannot 

 " depend on finding it at any time." Also found commonly under 

 bricks at Dover by Mr. E. A. Newbery. " Local ; taken under 

 " stones near Rye, and in moss at Hastings, two miles from the 

 " shore (W. H. Bennett, Hastings)." " Not taken in this district " 

 (W. E. Sharp, Ledsham). Neither is it recorded in Liverpool 

 Coleoptera by Dr. Ellis. Mr. R. Gillo, Bath, says : — " It is common 

 " in one locality there, a sandy barren field ; it only occurs, however, 

 " singly about May or June. I have also found it at Weymouth ; but 

 " have never seen it fire its artillery." Ireland : " recorded from 

 " Wexford and Louth " (Rev. W. F. Johnson). 



B. explodens, Duft. — Ought for present, at least, to be erased from 

 the British list. Its claim to rank as indigenous seems to be very 

 doubtful. " From Dr. Power's note, it appears that Mr. Murton, of I 

 " Silverdale, a lepidopterist, made an excursion into Wastdale, in 



