The Branded Fir Beetle. 



47 



This is by no means a common beetle in this country, but 

 it is very plentiful and extremely destructive in French pine 

 forests, also in Germany, Austria, and Italy. It is not 

 recorded that it is known in the United States, but there is a 

 beetle there, known as Pi'ssodes strihi^ of somewhat similar 



habits. Canon Fowler says : — " Pissodes Jiotatus is very local, 

 and not common in Great Britain . . . I have a strong 

 idea that it has been taken in some numbers near Bourne- 

 mouth, but cannot find any record. It is the only species 

 found in France, where it inhabits the whole basin of the 



