Note on a Curious Beetle.—Presuming that the occurrence of the less common species of insects in our Midland district will be a matter of interest to the readers of the "Naturalist," I send the following note:—On the 12th of September, 1873, a young friend of mine brought to me from the newly-opened Clifton Colliery, near Nottingham, some specimens of a remarkable beetle. Its entire length, body and head, was ⅗ of an inch; its prevailing colour an iron grey, with lighter patches on the thighs and tarsi, and lighter strokes between the segments on the under side of the abdomen. But the most striking feature about the beetle was its antennæ. These were 3¼ inches long, composed of ten joints, the one nearest the head being much thickened. How this little creature manages to fly through the woods without breaking such long and slender organs is a puzzle. They were longest in the males; and as the males, so I am told, frequently fight, the antennæ do get broken. Several specimens were brought to me in this state. The beetle in question I made out to be Astinomus ædilis, Some authorities call it Acanthocinus. It appears to occur at Rannock, in Perthshire; and Mr. Rye says that "it may be not uncommonly seen flying across the glades of the Black Forest, with its long appendages streaming behind. It loves to settle on felled pine logs, with its antennæ spread out like compasses, from which habit it is termed by the Highlanders "Timberman"." There seems to be no doubt that the beetle was imported in the timber needed for the colliery, and travelled from its proper home in the stage of larva or pupa. Waking from its quiescent state, it flew, attracted by the warmth, in great numbers to the tall chimney of the engine house, where several very fine specimens were secured. For a good figure see Rye's British Beetles, plate xiii.—Edwin Smith, Nottingham.
A Few London Notes, by an Occasional Correspondent.—Now that the season for the work of the learned societies has come, they are as busy and interesting as usual, and an admission is easily obtained to any or most of them, the subscribers of "The Midland Naturalist" cannot do better, when they are in town, than consult "The Weekly Calendar" of the Illustrated London News, and, choosing their society, ask a member for an introduction.—A great want in microscopy is likely to be supplied by the "Immersion Paraboloid," exhibited at the Quekett Club, which renders dark ground illumination possible with high powers. It is, being "immersion," somewhat more troublesome than the ordinary illuminator, but answers admirably. Every one will be glad to hear that Sir Josh. Hooker is looking strong and well after his tour. He visited Colorado and the Sierra Nevada, with Professor Asa Gray, with the intention of classifying the Conifers on their route. The task is rendered difficult by every tree having as many local or scientific names as branches; but among other curiosities, he mentioned one pine which does not shed its seeds or cones, and showed a specimen of another and a piece of juniper, deeply scored and honey-combed in parts, to the depth of thirty annual rings. by sandblast. Considering the trees were grown at an altitude of some thousands of feet, and are so sharp that a knife will not touch them, it can he easily imagined, as is the fact, that hundreds of years have been spent in making the excavations.—Professor Tyndall's lecture, at the London Institution, was a great success, the Theatre not being nearly large enough to hold the intending audience. His proofs, in opposition to Dr. Bastian's assertion of spontaneous generation, seemed unanswerable; but the Doctor is too tough an antagonist to be easily vanquished. In passing, I may remark that if scientific lecturers generally only knew the pleasure it gives an audience to listen to the fluent and animated delivery of Professor Tyndall, aa opposed to the sing-song, monotonous read lectures, only too common, they would cultivate style as they do their other gifts, and doubtless as
