Field Notes. 
161 
that I cannot understand or verify for myself,’ he said to me 
once when we were discussing a philosophical problem. It 
was, perhaps, this scepticism that made his observations and 
statements so accurate and valuable. 
Gyngell had a Catholic taste in books ; he read poetry and 
fiction with the same keen delight that he read scientific 
works. 
It was due to his inspiration and influence that the 
Scarborough Field Naturalists’ Society was founded. The 
first meeting took place in a room behind Gyngell ’s shop in 
Westborough, when five local naturalists, W. J. Clarke, the 
late J. A. Hargreaves, C. D. Head and J. H. Rowntree were 
also present. From that meeting in, I believe, 1888, sprang 
one of the most vigorous and successful Natural History 
Societies in Yorkshire. Gyngell, of course, took a very active 
part in its affairs, and devoted all his spare time to its organisa- 
tion, to the making and keeping of records in his own branches 
of study, and for many years he rarely, if ever, failed to 
attend the fortnightly meetings. 
Of late, failing health and strength prevented Gyngell 
taking any active part in the Society he founded so many 
years ago, but right up to the end he was as keenly interested 
in Nature as ever. — E. Arnold Wallis. 
FIELD NOTES. 
Mating of Acilius sulcatus. — Whilst seeking larvae in a 
pond near Bradford, on the evening of May 12th, I took in the 
dredge what appeared to be a burly water-beetle. Upon 
examination I found two specimens of Acilius sulcatus , 
5 and (J (family Oytiscidae), in contact. They jumped 
vigorously about in the dredge, separated, and so I returned 
them to the pond. I got another pair in contact shortly 
afterwards ; these behaved in the same manner and I lost the 
(J. I placed the $ in a tube. Later, I caught another pair 
whilst they were swimming in the shallow water. They 
jumped about in the dredge, but the clung firmly to the 
On examining them in a tube, I could see the ‘ sucker-pads 
being just behind the female’s eye. As they rose to the 
surface of the water I observed the $ bend down the tip of his 
abdomen, extend the aedcagus and penetrate the This was 
successfully performed at least six times, shortly after captive. 
During the operation, on two or three occasions, the $ dis- 
charged a black soluble fluid from the underpart of the thorax. 
During the evening I saw at least two more pairs of these 
beetles swimming about in contact, but too far from the 
bank to secure. I kept a close watch on the pair in the tube, 
the male retaining his grip from 8 p.m. until 11-30 p.m. at 
1933 July 1 
