THE ENTOMOLOGIST’S WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER. 
191 
COLEOPTEEA. 
We drew attention, in our last notice, to 
the principle of setting traps for our prey ; 
a system which we believe is too much 
overlooked by the generality of our col- 
lectors, who are content to examine the 
various attractive substances just when 
they chance to fall in with them, during 
their rambles, without ever taking the 
trouble to convey them to their respective 
scenes of operation. We would there- 
fore urge those entomologists who are 
desirous of adding to their Necropha- 
gous and other stores, and to whom an 
unlimited amount of bones and dead rats 
are usually accessible, not to neglect so 
practical a mode of securing this im- 
portant end. 
There are other methods, however, by 
which we may obtain an abundant sup- 
ply of “game;” and which involve a 
somewhat similar principle, though our 
modus operandi he different, and the 
creatures enticed for the most part of 
another kind. Such, for instance, is the 
plan (which we should do well to adopt) 
of occasionally heaping together small 
quantities of weeds and grass in profit- 
able looking places, and leaving them 
there to decay ; for beneath such refuse 
numerous beetles are accustomed to hide, 
and many species may be thus allured 
which we might search for in vain, either 
under stones or with the sweeping-net. 
Hosts of the Godephaga and Staphy- 
linidce secrete themselves under vege- 
table detritus; and the Atomarice also, 
and the Trichoplerygia, abound in the 
same situations. 
Hot-beds too (particularly when re- 
cently constructed) are eminently pro- 
lific in many of the smaller tribes ; and 
if flat tiles, or pieces of wood, be placed 
lightly upon them ( outside the frames), 
and be carefully inverted once or twice a 
day, the number of minute Coleoptera 
which may be obtained is often pro- 
digious. Many of the Monotomce and 
Pselapliidce (as, for instance, the M. pi- 
cipes and an gusticollis, of the former, 
and the JEupleclus Karslenii and signa- 
tus, of the latter) we seldom meet with 
except in such spots ; and the little Acri- 
tus minutus is at times, also, extremely 
abundant. The Cercyon centrimacula- 
tum, Tachinus Silphoides and Oxytelus 
sculplus (not to mention the Forficuli- 
deous Labia minor ) are frequently very 
common about hot-beds ; as are also cer- 
tain of the Cryptophagi and Lithocha- 
rules, the Lathridius ruficollis, the dimi- 
nutive Trogophlceus pusillus, and one or 
two Anthici. The Ptiliadce, again, may 
be said almost to attain their maximum 
in such situations ; for we may some- 
times observe two or three species of 
Trichopteryx and Piinidium under a 
single stone or tile,— though, on account 
of their almost microscopic dimensions, 
they require closely looking for. 
We strongly recommend our readers, 
therefore, to examine the hot-beds when- 
ever they have an opportunity of doing 
so. Where the surfaces of them (as 
sometimes happens) are entirely occu- 
pied, so that there is no space for laying 
down pieces of wood, or the other sub- 
stances outside the frames, we must make 
the best of our misfortunes and put them 
within; though, since the great heat is 
somewhat too severe for ordinary Co- 
leoptera, it is desirable to leave the glasses 
open , especially at night [never mind 
about killing the melons, if only they do 
not belong to us, or to any of our imme- 
diate friends], in order to subdue the 
temperature and adapt it to the require- 
ments of beetle-life. By conscientiously 
doing this, day by day, it is quite re- 
markable to what an extent our collec- 
tions (in the minuter departments at any 
rate) may be augmented. 
We might detail other methods of 
enticing our prey, but space will not per- 
mit us to do so now. Many similar 
modes, however, will at once suggest 
