THE ENTOMOLOGIST’S WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER. 
199 
actually over, for something may be clone 
even yet. 
Before the autumn fairly departs, there 
is usually a gathering of the insect tribes, 
as though to discuss, in Synod assembled, 
during the last gleams of genuine sun- 
shine, their coming doom ; and accord- 
ingly, after the early frosts have com- 
menced to be felt, it generally happens 
that multitudes of Coleoptera come forth, 
for a few weeks, with renewed strength, 
determined to enjoy themselves, and to 
make the most of the little period that 
stilt remains. Numbers of them will 
now use their wings for the last time; 
but it would seem as though they had 
resolved to die merrily, for the slanting 
sunbeams are peopled with forms in- 
numerable, which have come forth into 
the evening glow of calm September for 
a parting dance. Others, however, have 
been but lately born, and are destined to 
be just initiated into the luxuries of life 
before the iron hand of winter benumbs 
their rising energies, and tells them that 
they must hybernate till the spring. 
Open fields, therefore, to which the 
sun’s rays have sufficient access to absorb 
the heavy autumnal dews which are de- 
posited during the night, are now excel- 
lent arenas for the sweeping-net ; and, in 
fine afternoons, beetles may often be ob- 
served running up the grass in prodigious 
numbers, as though to escape from the 
confines of the damp earth, and to dry 
themselves in a more genial atmosphere ; 
and thus, in such situations, both the air 
itself and the herbage beneath is fre- 
quently, on still, sunny evenings, alive 
with Coleoptera. The various species of 
Leiodes are, par excellence , to be met with 
under such circumstances, particularly in 
the northern counties and in Scotland; 
and even the large L.cinnamomea, which 
resides under ground, in truffles, often 
ascends to the surface, and may be cap- 
tured amongst the rank vegetation. In 
marshy spots also many of the smaller 
Philhydrida , and other insects, are apt 
to take flight, the Ochthebii and Hetero- 
ceri being often especially active; and 
the rushes in such places, therefore, should 
be carefully brushed. 
A few species, moreover, are even nor- 
mally, of post-autumnal habits; their 
number, however, is apparently very few. 
Such, for instance, is the Phloiophilus 
Edivardsii, which may be captured by 
sweeping beneath trees, both in shrub- 
beries and woods. Small pools also, par- 
ticularly in limestone districts, are some- 
times alive with the Hydradephaga even 
in October, when the generality of the 
terrestrial insects have disappeared ; and 
the water-net therefore may be usually 
kept in operation to a later period than 
its “ brother of the land.” 
We would remind our Coleopterists, 
however, that they have other work to 
perform than simply to collect. Impor- 
tant as it is, at all times, to increase our 
stores (for we can do nothing without 
material to proceed with), we should re- 
member that even “ material” is only of 
real value in proportion as we can turn it 
to after-account, for the advancement of 
knowledge and the consequent benefit of 
Science. It is but little use that our 
summer captures have been superb, if 
they are to be shut up in a store-box 
during the winter, and no general deduc- 
tions are to be drawn from them. Still 
less shall we have done our duty as con- 
scientious naturalists, if they are to be 
treated as mere articles of commerce, 
and doled forth, one by one, under a 
system of “bargaining,” from which a 
generous-minded man cannot but recoil. 
The domain of nature is the property of 
us all equally ; and those whose labours 
have been successful therein will find it 
better policy to share their treasures un- 
conditionally with their less fortunate 
brethren than to hide them away where 
they can be of no use either to themselves 
or any one else, and from whence they 
are only produced when a fair “offer” has 
been made for them. Those who give 
