182 
THE ENTOMOLOGIST’S WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER. 
August is an unprofitable month) may 
begin now to bestir themselves, and re- 
pair their nets for the chase. The “ 1st 
of September,” it is true, has no special 
claims for the entomologist as it has for 
the sportsman ; yet it is assuredly the 
“ harbinger of better things to come,” — 
for the Coleoptera, awakening as it were 
from their summer's sleep, commence 
now to reappear, and don their autumnal 
garb with renewed strength. The hyber- 
nation of insects we are all familiar with : 
but does it ever occur to us that they may 
sometimes (estivate ? It is certain, how- 
ever, that extraordinary heat does practi- 
cally produce aestivation (if we may so 
express it) in hosts of Coleoptera ; and 
that species, which during the blaze of 
an August sun occur but sparingly in 
aperto, emerge by thousands from their 
hiding-places so soon as the atmosphere 
becomes partially tempered by the first 
“rudiments” of frost. Now is the time 
for the mountains, which may be said to 
attain their maximum towards the eud 
of September: the under sides of stones 
on the extreme summits will be fre- 
quently found (even more than on the 
grassy declivities) to teem with life. In 
a few weeks, also, the coast will be again 
productive, affording much the same 
species as it did in early spring. The 
sand-hills of Deal may be cited as pecu- 
liarly prolific about the beginning of 
October; and if at that time the moss 
and lichen be gathered from the slopes 
and shaken into a bag, Panatjccus 
4-pustulatus , Amara curta, Harpalus 
serripes and attenuatus, Masoreus IVctter- 
hallii, and numerous others of the 
“ Carab race,” are almost certain to be 
the result ; whilst the great Zabrus gib- 
bus will, if searched for, be assuredly 
forthcoming in the corn-fields hard by, 
and may be often captured whilst running 
across the open pathways and roads. 
Saline spots are perhaps more productive 
somewhat earlier in the season than now ; 
nevertheless, “ better late than never,” 
should be the motto of the Coleopterist ; 
and those of our crew who have not been 
able to command sufficient leisure to 
sally forth under a “ noonday sun ” may 
do much even yet, though Phoebus be 
“ waxing low,” and we are verging, at 
railroad pace, towards the “ evening of 
the year.” Intense heat and a clear sky 
are the conditions which call forth our 
insect Troglodytes from their retreats ; 
and it is almost useless, therefore, in 
cold and dull weather to search for 
them; but when “ the sun shines bright” 
[we will not add the remainder — “ and 
the stars give light,”] alluvial and clayey 
districts adjoining the sea may be ex- 
plored with advantage, and the Salterns 
will be found “ rich with living gems.” 
The Isle of Sheppy is convenient of 
access for the Loudon collectors; and 
the treasures of those loamy flats, who 
can recount them ! Anthiei , Pogoni, and 
Dembidia, in multitudes are here; and 
two of our greatest British rarities, the 
Polistichus fasciolatus and Stenolophus 
elegans, are there also. The brackish 
waters of the ditches and pools, too, 
speak to us of Paradise ; for the very 
names of Macroplea Equiseli and Bero- 
sus spinosus “curdle the blood” of a 
Coleopterist. But we must desist; for 
time and space are alike limited : and, 
when once prescribed, neither one nor 
the other of them will alter for any man. 
— T. V. Wollaston; August 28, 1856. 
THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 
Monday, September 1, 1856. W. W. 
Saunders, Esq., F.R.S., President, in 
the Chair. 
Death of Mr. Yarrell. — The Pre- 
sident informed the meeting that he had, 
with much regret, rcbeived intelligence 
of the death of Mr. Yarrell, who had for 
so many years been the Treasurer of the 
