184 
HOLES IN THE SAND 
G. albida, Orchis mcarnata, Hahenaria bifolia, Gardamine ivqyatieris, 
Glaux viaritivia, Hipj^uris vulgaris, Saxifraga aizoides, S. hypnoides, 
Seduyn Anglicum, Geranmm Bobertianuvi (white), G. sylvaticuni, 
Honckeneya peploides. Aster Tripolium. Mr. Thomas Hooper made a 
collection of specimens of the rocks of Oban, and the neighbouring 
places visited, including Staffa, Iona, Mull, Glencoe, Easdale, etc., 
which will be reported upon by the Geological Section. Altogether 
the Excursion was most successful, and the best thanks of the 
members were given to Mr. Morley, the hon. sec., for his untiring 
exertions, and for the very excellent arrangements which he made for 
the comfort and convenience of the members. 
HOLES IN THE SAND. 
BY FREDERICK ENOCK. 
During the latter part of May I had the opportunity of observing 
the strange larva of the Tiger Beetle (Cicindela campestris), which 
abounds on the commons about here, but being a “ common thing ” it 
is very often passed over, I think from the fact of its being far sharper 
than a good many entomologists, who are content with seeing a round 
hole in the sand, but don’t care to examine whether there is an owner 
or not. I was passing along one of the numerous rough roads, cutting 
across a common, where there was a slight perpendicular sand-bank 
on the left side, full of very round holes of about Jin. diam., when 
suddenly another lot of holes seemed to appear in a moment. I passed 
on thinking, then quietly returned in about five minutes, and again 
holes appeared. I was much puzzled, so stood at a respectful distance 
round a corner, and, having the holes in view, presently I saw some¬ 
thing move in one of the holes, but as it was of the exact colour of the 
sand I could not make it out; it continued moving until it was just 
level with the face of the bank; others followed in the other holes, and 
now I drew out my long trowel, and noting the exact position of one 
hole, I “sneaked” out from my corner, and making a rapid lunge, I 
plunged my trowel in some four inches from the hole, at an angle of 
45°, endeavouring to cut off the backward movement of the occupant, 
and on removing the sand I found that I had done so ; but only just, 
for so quickly did the larva shoot back, that it came into collision with 
the point of my moving trowel, and so lost part of its tail! But now 
having found one, I soon dug out a number by simply following the 
bore down, generally about seven inches, though often I had to dig ten 
inches before I came upon the savage larva, gnashing its jaws at any 
and every thing. 
I took several home to examine, thinking it one of the strangest 
things I had yet seen, and, on further acquaintance with it, it certainly 
is a most extraordinary creature, and though so strangely and, at 
