A HISTORY OF KENT species are included, of which twenty-five appear to be indigenous ; five are certainly introduced, and two are irregular or occasional visitors. The more noteworthy Orthoptera from Kent are Apterygida albipennis, which has been taken in only one other English county ; Platycleis rceselii, a great rarity ; and Decticus verrucivorus, one of our scarcest grasshoppers. Further collecting will doubtless show that the Mole Cricket {Gryllotalpa gryllotalpd) and the Field Cricket {Gryllus campestris), and perhaps also Mecostethus grossus, Ectobia lapponica and Platycleis brachyptera, are to be found within its borders. Some at least of these species may be confidently expected, and it is easily within the bounds of possibility that forms new to the British fauna may be discovered. A few localities, as for instance the Folkestone warren and the Deal sandhills, have been well worked and have produced interesting forms. There are without doubt many other spots in Kent which would equally repay the collector. FORFICULARIA Ea?-'wigs The rare earwig Labidura riparia. Pall., which is undoubtedly indigenous to Great Britain, has been taken on the beach at Folke- stone by a young lady who had ' sufficient observation to see that the insect was a peculiar one, sufficient courage to capture it, and sufficient discrimination to send it to ' the Rev. J. G. Wood.^ Anisolabis anmilipes, Luc, has been taken at Queenborough and in numbers on the Isle of Sheppey by Com. J. J. Walker, R.N. The Lesser Earwig [Labia minor, L.) is frequent in the evening during the early summer, flying often in company with Staphylinidce over dungheaps and flower beds. Forjicula auricularia, L., the common earwig, is abundant everywhere. F. lesnei, Finot, is somewhat locally distributed, but is fairly numerous on shrubs in the Folkestone warren, and may best be taken by sweeping. That rarity, Apterygida albipennis, Meg., was captured many years ago by Professor Westwood at Ashford, and recorded by Stephens. Since then it has only been once taken in Britain, i.e. in Norfolk in 1889. A. arachidis, Yers., is a cosmopolitan form, and has been taken in numbers in the Chemical Works at Queenborough by Com. J. J. Walker, R.N. BLATTODEA Cockroaches The little cockroach Ectobia parizeri, Steph., is by no means rare on the sandhills at Deal. E. livida, Fabr., has been taken at Broadwater Forest near Tunbridge Wells by Mr. F. Milton. Phyllodromia germanica, L., the ' German Cockroach,' is numerous in many hotels, restaurants, stores, etc. It has been noted at Blackheath and Folkestone. Blatta orientalis, L., is of course abundant in most houses. Periplaneta americana, L., also occurs in stores and warehouses, especially in seaport towns. 1 Insects at Home, by the Rev. J. G. Wood, p. 230. Mr. Lucas reports the capture of a second specimen in 1902, so the species may now be considered as established as a British insect. — H. G. 104
