G. GENERAL NATURAL HISTORY AND ZOOLOGY. 325 



possible to wriggle himself first to decomposition, and then 

 to death. 3Ionthly Microscopical Journal^ July^ 1876. 



A WEESTLIXG- MATCH BETWEEN ANTS AND WASPS. 



New facts regarding the habits and psychology of insects 

 are of peculiar interest nowadays. Mr. Rothney, of Bengal, 

 describes a wrestling -match between an Amjnilex^ the de- 

 stroyer of the cockroach, and some ants. On visiting a tree 

 he was surprised to see an unusual commotion going on 

 between these two species of insects. "All over the trunk 

 of the tree were couples engaged in a series of struggles 

 or wrestling-matches wasp versus ant; and so many in- 

 dividuals were occupied in this way, and their actions were 

 so rapid, that for some time I could make little out of their 

 proceedings." He therefore watched the movements of a 

 single wasp, which was evidently keeping guard over a piece 

 of smooth bark almost eighteen inches in diameter. An 

 ant would come on the ground and meet the wasp half- 

 way, when, after a series of manoeuvres on the part of the 

 wasp to get her favorite hold, she would jerk the ant a 

 clear foot off the tree, and another and another ant would 

 be treated in the same Avav. "Durino; the time I watched 

 the tree, I saw at least twenty ants thrown, but not one 

 wasp ' tackled.' What was most curious was the fact that 

 all this appeared to go on without the least ill-feeling be- 

 tween the contending parties, and a careful examination of 

 the defeated ants showed them to be none the worse for their 

 falls. I watched several ; on their reaching the ground they 

 seemed to be a little bewildered, but, soon recovering them- 

 selves, made for the tree again ; two, in particular, in the 

 most plucky manner, went straight for the spot from which 

 they had been hurled, and tried another bout with the old 

 opponent." This would seem to corroborate Pluber's state- 

 ment that he saw ants wrestling and playing with one an- 

 other. Entomologists'' Monthly Magaziiie^ September, 1876. 



THE METAMORPHOSES OF BEETLES. 



M. Ferris, distinguished by his works on the metamor- 

 phoses of the insects of the pine, particularly of the beetles 

 and flies, is publishing an elaborate work on the coleopterous 

 larvoe found in the several species of chestnut, beech, and 



