148 
THE NATURAL HISTORY OF STEEP HOLM. 
POLYDESMIDJE. 
Polydesmiis complanatus L. Few specimens taken under 
stones and decayed wood in a damp corner at the base of the 
rock face near the Hotel ruins. 
LlTHOBIIDiE. 
Lithobius forficatus. Moderately common in suitable places. 
Two fine specimens of the Blind Worm, Anguis fragilis L., 
were found under a big piece of limestone by a large nest of 
Lasius flavus. The lizards were evidently feeding on the ants' 
eggs as each one disgorged several on being captured. 
In addition, a few crustaceae, spiders, and myriapods, were 
met with. 
ENTOMOLOGY. — By G. C. Griffiths, F.E.S., and 
Chas. Bartlett. 
The number of insects taken on 27th May, 1914, was small, 
just 40 species of all orders being observed. The paucity of 
insect life may be accounted for by the cold weather which 
prevailed for some weeks before the visit, and the very bleak and 
exposed character of the locality. A fortnight later many more 
species would probably have been recorded. It was a subject 
of common remark amongst the Entomologists that Diptera were 
almost unrepresented, and the absence of these so often trouble- 
some pests added greatly to the comfort of collecting. 
No rarities, were obtained, and the insects met with, were in 
no case numerically abundant, yet it is interesting to note that 
three species of Hymenoptera, three of Coleoptera, and one of 
Diptera were not recorded in the list of Insects of Somerset as 
published in the Victoria County History in 1903. It is reason- 
able to suppose, therefore, that a longer stay in the Island would 
considerably enlarge its list of insect inhabitants, and possibly 
disclose some unexpected facts. 
A detailed list of species is appended, with initials of the 
captors, new records for Somerset being marked with an asterisk. 
Coleoptera. 
Harpalus tardus (F. G. P. and N. W.) 
,, seneus ,, 
Amara communis (C. B.) 
Brachinus crepitans (F. G. P. and N. W.) 
Melanotus rufipes (C. B.) 
Ocypus olens (F. G. P. and N. W.) 
Ocypus morio ,, 
Lacon murinus ,, 
Meligethes obscurus ,, 
*Syncalypta hirsuta (A. E. H.) 
Exomias araneiformis (F. G. P. and N. W.) 
*Orthochaetes setiger ,, 
Otiorhyncus sulcatus (C. B.) 
*Aleochara fuscipes ,, 
