Page:The Zoologist, 1st series, vol 1 (1843).djvu/299

Rh by myself, I may mention Adimonia Alni, Trypodendron domesticum and Hygrotus Stephensii.—Vernon Wollaston; Jesus Coll., Cambridge, July, 1843.

Note on a species of Aleochara. One of the species of Aleochara, I believe Al. Cursor, is very common on the beach near Penzance, under sea-weed. It has a peculiar method of doubling itself up when alarmed, by turning the end of the abdomen upwards and the head and thorax downwards under the body; when in this position, it so much resembles a fragment of the weed, that I should not have detected it had I not seen the process of transformation.—Frederick Holme; C.C.C. Oxford, July, 1843.

Note on Chrysomela Banksii. This insect occurred in the greatest profusion near Penzance at the end of May and during June. I have often found them sticking on the underside of timber lying on the wet sea-beach. They appear to be much preyed on by the blind worm (Anguis fragilis), which abounds in the West of Cornwall.—Id.

Note on Cicindela campestris. When several of these insects are confined together they fight savagely, rearing up against one another like dogs. I have known one decapitate its antagonist with a single stroke of its jaws.—Id.

Note on Broscus cephalotes. These insects occur in great abundance in holes on the beach near Penzance. When confined in a box or bottle with other insects, they appear to prey on their own species by preference, contrary to the habit of almost every other predaceous insect; even the opposite sexes will attack each other, as I have often witnessed.—Id.

Note on Phyllopertha Horticola. This insect is found in Cornwall during the summer in almost incredible numbers. I have seen them in a garden at Tregembo, near Helston, the seat of Wm. Pascoe, Esq., and I think every flower in the garden contained three or four; the rose in particular appeared to attract them. A few days afterwards I saw them literally covering the eastern side of the cliff, at St. Michael's Mount, feeding on the borage growing there. They vary considerably in colour, some having the thorax green, others deep blackish blue; in some the suture is greenish, and some are of a very deep suffused tinge throughout.—Id.

Note on the species of Cionus and Sphcerula Lythri. These insects are not uncommon near Penzance. Cionus Scrophulariae, Verbasci and Blattariae appeared particularly partial to the balm-leaved figwort (Scrophularia Scorodonia) behind Mr. Bolitho's house at Chyandown, about a mile from Penzance. At first sight they greatly resemble the excrement of birds; and they fall motionless to the ground when approached. Like most of the Rhyncophora they run up a perpendicular surface of glass with great facility. They fly readily and well when the sun shines. I found Sphaerula Lythri in plenty in July, on Osmunda regalis and other ferns, growing on the rocks between Newlyn and Mousehole: like the species of Cionus, it falls motionless when touched.—Id.

Note on Molytes anglicanus. This insect is very common in the summer near Penzance, particularly on the hart's-tongue fern (Scolopendrium vulyare). Its wing-cases are so hard as not easily to be pierced with a pin: and as the insect, when touched, extends its limbs and remains motionless, it must be almost too rough a morsel for the bill of an insectivorous bird. Mr. Griffin tells me that he saw a trout which had snapped one from the surface of a shallow stream, rubbing his head against the bottom in evident discomfiture, as if the insect were sticking in his gills by means of its extended limbs.—Id.

Note on the capture of Pissodes Pini near London. This northern insect has twice occurred recently with us. My friend Mr. Bush found a specimen the other day crawl-