1831.] 
235 
though we have never seen it at Hastings. From Eastbourne Miss R. M. Sotheby 
sent me a specimen of Rliacognathus punctatus, and I received Coranus subapterus 
from Deal. — E. A. Butler, University Lower School, Hastings: Feb. 14 dh, 1881. 
Notes on Coleoptera in the Isle of Wight. — Last spriug, during a few days’ stay 
at Ventnor, I obtained a good many specimens of Liihocharis mciritima (first re- 
corded as British from this locality by Mr. Gruyon). I found the first specimen by 
accident, while searching for Limnceum nigropiceum which was fairly plentiful. At 
first I took the Liihocharis very sparingly, but afterwards, on acquiring a knowledge 
of its habits, I succeeded on one occasion in getting about two dozen in less than an 
hour. Philonthus xantholoma swarmed in the sarao locality, a considerable number 
of the var. variolosus with abnormally developed heads being among them. 
Philonthus fucicol a was to be got, but sparingly, and also Philonthus sericeus , and 
Somalota vestita, plumbea, and puncticeps. 
Dianous and Stenus guttula can always be found under the moss in the stream 
that runs down to the beach a little to the west of the town. I failed, however, to 
find Trechus lapidosus under the stones near the some place, though I secured a few 
there two years before. 
At Sandown I found several Harpalus parallelus, and other common Harpali 
(such as rotundicollis, rubripes, &c.) in abundance ; also Ceuthorhynchus rugulosus, 
Ceuthorhynchideus Daiosoni, and Apion confluens (the latter in profusion, always in 
company with Olibrus ceneus ) on and at the roots of plants growing in the sand. 
I tried Black (rang Chine one day, but failed to get any beetles worth mention- 
ing except Apion striatum and Philorhinum humile, both in abundance, off furze. 
There was a bitter east wind blowing all the time I was in the Island, 
which rendered sweeping and beating out of the question, except in unusually 
sheltered spots. — W. W. Fowler, Lincoln : February 2nd, 1881. 
Colorado Beetles in Devonshire. — In the House of Commons, on the 11th inst., 
Mr. Borlase asked the Secretary of State for the House Department whether his 
attention had been called to the evidence adduced at the Yealmpton Police-court, 
with regard to the discovery of Colorado beetles in South Devon ; and Mr. Mundella 
said he had been requested to answer this question, Colorado beetles being in his 
department. The history of the case referred to was as follows : — On the 5th inst. 
the deputy chief constable of Devon telegraphed to the clerk of the Council that a man 
near Plymouth was in possession of some live Colorado beetles, which he refused to 
give up, that there was no power to apprehend, and asked for instructions. A 
telegraphic reply was immediately sent to the effect that the Destructive Insects’ 
Act of 1877, and the order passed under that Act, provided for the imposition of 
penalties in such cases. Copies of the Act and order were forwarded to him by that 
night’s post. On the 7th inst. the Home Office sent us a letter from the clerk of 
the justices of the Petty Sessions Division on the subject. We gave him the same 
information as was given to the deputy chief constable. On the 10th inst. we 
received an intimation that the defendant had been convicted and fined £5, the 
maximum penalty of £10 having been mitigated, as he pleaded ignorance of the 
law, and proved that the beetles had been destroyed. 
[From the “Hardeners’ Chronicle” for February 10th, 1881. We understand 
