168.] 14)1 
bout two inches in length, the upper one containing at least twenty eggs, laid 
ith great regularity in spiral lines round the sides of the chamber, each against a 
jght depression in the rotten wall, about one-eighth of an inch from its neighbour, 
Qd carefully packed round with frass. The centre of this branch contained only 
•ass, and no eggs, and its entrance from the main burrow was packed with frass 
)r about three-sixteenths of an inch, as a plug or stopper. The lower branch con- 
lined twenty or thirty larvse, which had been hatched for several days, and had 
Dmmenced to bore into the wood : they had not at all disturbed their bed of frass. 
he ? beetle, still alive, occupied the main burrow, but the $ was not to be found. 
Sinodendron evidently only attacks wood that is really rotten. I have found 
1 boring into poplar and beech, as well as ash. 
The eggs are white and opaque, ovoid in form, one-twelfth of an inch in length, 
ad one-twentieth in diameter.— T. Algernon Chapman, Abergavenny, July, 1868. 
Dytiscus lapponicus in Ireland. — I have pleasure in recording the capture, for 
ae first time, of Dytiscus lapponicus in the " Emerald Isle." During last August 
spent several days in the " Wilds of Donegal," where a combuiation of sceneiy, 
Q the one hand of the wildest grandeur, and on the other of the bleakest desola- 
on, may be found, perhaps unmatched in the three kingdoms. The possibility of 
nding a slug (not a Limax) in one's hat seems veiy much to have prevented 
Jurists and even naturalists from visiting its romantic cliffs. After a drought of 
iree mouths I was not surprised to find insects of all kinds scarce. There is no 
Drt of country which is so much injured entomologically by long want of rain as 
reeless mooi-land and mountain-side. The very peat-holes, the loved abode of 
lydropori, were dried up. During my visit, however, the weather broke, and, oh ! 
ich. rain ! 
- The loughs and tarns of Donegal are innumerable, but nearly all are so 
tocked with trout, that beetles have a hard lot. Having searched several tarns 
rithout success, I ceased to expect anything ; but happening to pass a small one 
^om which no stream seemed to issue, I gave a passing look (having no net at the 
me) for any signs of entomological life. My surprise was gi'eat when, at the first 
lance, a Dytiscus came paddling towards me, and was at once recognised as lajp- 
onicus. He was speedily secured with the hand (for he was quite unsophisticated), 
nd a regular hunt commenced. I was rewarded ere long with a good number. 
Next day, through a perfect "tempest torrent whirlwind" of the elements, I 
eturned with my net, and, amidst the sohtude broken only by the hiss of the wind 
long the mountain side, the rattle of the rain-drops on the surface of the water, 
nd the roar of the Atlantic on the cliffs below, I spent several hours hunting, 
eing up to the knees in water. Success, howevei-, sweetened all disagreeables. 
I was much struck by the very close resemblance between the appearance of 
). lapponicus, while at rest at the bottom, and the half- withered leaves of Pota- 
^ogeton natans. The yellow strisD on the elytra of the freshly emerged males 
Imost exactly mimic the venation of the leaf. Doubtless this has frequently saved 
liem from the attack of herons and gulls. 
As I once before noticed (Ent. Monthly Mag., March, 1868), the females were 
ery much less numerous than the males, being in the proportion of 1 to 5. The 
nly other beetles I observed in the tarn were Acilius sulcatum, Gyrinits 7iatator and 
}. 7ninutus : the last was very abundant. 
