Polistichus appears to be nearly related to Cymindis, from 
which it is distinguished by its labial palpi, which are clavate, 
not securiform, by the greater length of the basal joint of the 
antennae, by its simple claws, &c. 
Many insects are evidently periodical as well as local ; it is 
therefore very possible that the rarest of our species may oc- 
casionally be produced in abundance; the Carabidae alone 
will afford sufficient examples to substantiate our assertion : 
for instance, until lately British specimens of Omaseus aterri- 
mus , Nehria livida , and Licinus silphoides , existed only in 
one or two cabinets ; the first of these has, however, appeared 
in Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Ireland, in profusion; the 
second has occurred during the last year on the Yorkshire 
coast in sufficient plenty to supply the principal cabinets ; and 
the third has been found in Kent and Surrey, and even in the 
streets of London during the last and two or three previous years. 
In addition to these, I have the pleasure of recording Polisti- 
chus fasciolatus , as recently discovered on the coast of Suffolk; 
only four or five specimens were previously known to have 
been taken, which were from Cley in Norfolk, and Southend, 
Essex. 
For specimens and the following memorandum relating to 
the economy of this valuable beetle, I am indebted to William 
C. Hewitson, Esq., of York. 
“Taken April 13th and 16th, 1828, under a stone heap 
upon the sea-shore, above high-w r ater mark near Southwold, 
in great profusion, clustering close together, and very active 
when disturbed, burrowing in the sand, and when put into a 
bottle fighting so desperately as to bite each other quite in 
pieces ; and so local, that there were none to be found under 
other stone heaps though within a few yards of the place.” 
On the 1 7th of May I had the pleasure of seeing it alive at 
the above place ; and the plant Areriaria peploides (Sea Sand- 
wort) was in flower there at the time. 
