instabilella, Adactylus Bennett, Catoptria Wimmerana, Phorodesma smaragdaria, and the larvæ of Clisiocampa castrensis, all good species, and some quite new; besides others not quite so rare. I have already cited the Isle of Wight as the locality for Melitaa Cinxia, but I ought to add that the whole of its coast is first-rate entomological ground. I may mention the rare Agrotis lunigera as one of the specialities captured here with sugar; and as another, Cucullia Absinthii, of which the larvæ feed on the seawormwood. The Isle of Portland is not very productive, but it has its peculiar insects. Heliophobus hispida is a rare moth, found sitting on the broken rocks in September, and in July I have taken the still rarer Acidalia degeneraria, below Rufus's Castle. Deal, before mentioned in connection with beetles, is a locality for many fine Lepidoptera, the splendid Plusia bractea being at the head of the list: it is taken, in July, flying about flowers at dusk. Brighton has lately become celebrated on account of some fine moths taken there by means of lamps. Leucania musculosa, Phlogophora empyrea and Callimorpha Hera, the last two being quite new to the British list, are famous captures. On the beach I saw plenty of Gelechia Brizella, in August, two or three years ago, the species being until then one of our greatest rarities. The lighthouses at times attract many night-flying moths. Ennomos Alniaria was once taken at the North Foreland lighthouse, and it is recorded that the keeper of the Lowestoft light has had to sweep the lantern to clear away the moths that swarmed on it to so great an extent as to obscure the light. Thus I could go on and fill a book with coast-localities and names of species. But my space warns me to desist, and I trust that, although I could say much more, I have said enough to show that there is ample employment for all who wish to search out the entomological "wonders of the shore." § XII. THE MOUNTAINS. "To sit on rocks, to muse o'er flood and fell, To slowly trace the forest's shady scene, Converse with Nature's charms, and view her stores unroll'd." BYRON. "WHOEVER has not ascended our mountains knows little of the beauties of this beautiful island. Whoever has not climbed their long and heathy ascents, and seen the trembling mountain flowers, the glowing moss, the richly-tinted lichens at his feet; and scented the fresh aroma of the uncultivated sod, and of the spicy shrubs; and heard the bleat of the flock across their solitary expanses, and the wild cry of the mountain-plover, the raven, or the eagle; and seen the rich and russet hues of distant slopes and eminences, the livid gashes of ravines and precipices, the white glittering line of falling waters, and the cloud tumultuously whirling round the lofty summit; and then stood panting on that summit, and beheld the clouds gather and break over a thousand giant peaks and ridges of every varied hue-but all silent as images of eternity; and cast his gaze over lakes and forests, and smoking towns, and wide lands to the very ocean, in all their gleaming and reposing beauty, knows nothing of the treasures of pictorial wealth which his own country possesses."* How true all this is those who have made a tour in Wales or the Highlands of Scotland will readily declare. I speak from experience when I say that the entomologist loses nothing of all the charms of scenery, while in capturing the insects peculiar to the North, which continually occur, he has, in addition, pleasures the most exciting. In those species of Lepidoptera which are also found in the South, the variations of colour are very remarkable, the hues being invariably darker and richer- a circumstance I have not heard accounted for. Most of the Scotch insects are also found in the northern latitudes of Europe, the plants and climate being much alike-two of the circumstances which have the greatest influence in determining the geographical range of species. Among the more remarkable Coleoptera in Scotland are Elaphrus Lapponicus, an inhabitant of boggy places on the Catlaw and Clova Mountains almost all the specimens, however, have been taken by Miss Lyell, and greatly indebted are entomologists to that lady for the trouble she has taken to procure them this fine species. Loose stones are the favourite resting *Howitt's Book of the Seasons,' p. 324. places of Carabus glabratus, Miscodera arctica and other fine Geodephaga. Indeed the number of beetles that lies hid under stones is wonderful; and on the moor, the mountain and the rill-side, the entomologist always, if he finds not “sermons in stones," may get a text to preach from, under every one. The Black Forest, in Perthshire, has, within the last ten years, been much frequented by English collectors, and a rich harvest of insects, either not before known in Britain or extremely rare, have they gathered. Within its domains the following fine species have been collected: Pytho depressus, Dictyopterus Aurora, a fine scarlet creature, Asemum striatum, Saperda scalaris, Lamia textor, Pogonocherus fasciculosus, Astynomus ædilis, Trichius fas ciatus. The last two species are very remarkable: A. ædilis has slender antennæ, in the male nearly four inches long, and four times the length of the body; it flies only in the hot sunshine, and to see it sailing majestically through the air, as it goes in search of some newly-felled fir tree, is beautiful. T. fasciatus, called the bee-beetle, from its being somewhat like a bee at first sight, has yellow wingcovers spotted with black, the thorax and body densely clothed with yellow pile. It is a very pretty creature, and has delicate tastes appropriate to beauty, being fond of flowers, chiefly those of thistles. The Scotch waters will repay an examination. So lately as September, 1854, the Rev. Hamlet Clark found Dytiscus Lapponicus, a water-beetle quite new to our list, in a small, very deep lake in the Isle of Mull. Agabus arcticus, A. congener, A. dispar, several species of Hydroporus, &c., |