Queries a7id A?iswers. 



109 



winged Microgaster or two escaping from others. This confirms the remark 

 to the same effect by Mr. Bree, above; and, connected with those I cap- 

 tured unhatched in January, 1831, teaches that the pupae of Microgaster 

 glomeratus have not a determinate time for changing into the fly state. 

 — J. D. 



Microgaster glomeratus^ a hair-like appendage to the abdomen of its larva. — 

 The Phalae'na ^ombyx Caja is a frequent prey to the great /chneumon 

 instigator (a large black species with red legs, which has a powerful scent), 

 and also to the Microgaster glomeratus, a small species, which leaves its 

 prey while yet in the larva state, and spins its little silken cocoons among 

 the long hairs of the Pombyx. I observed of the latter insect, Microgas- 

 ter glomeratus, a very curious fact during the present autumn, which, as I 

 cannot find it noticed by any author, I shall just mention ; hoping that some 

 of your readers may be able to account for it, or throw some additional 

 light on the subject. On opening a larva of Pontic brassicae, which from 

 its manner I supposed to be infested, I found about 45 of the larvae of 

 these parasites with their heads apparently inserted in the skin of the 

 lepidopterous larva as if about to make their egress ; and to the end of the 

 abdomen of each was appended a long transparent process, about the size 

 of a hair, which I could not separate from the little grubs without causing 

 their death. I repeated the experiment on several other larvae of Pontia 

 brassicae, and always with the same result. I had several times the plea- 

 sure of observing the grubs in the actual fact of making their exit : on draw- 

 ing these out I found the same appendage invariably ; but when left to 

 themselves, they twisted about for forty or fifty minutes, and thus released 

 themselves from it before they commenced their cocoons. It is possible 

 these beings can thus receive their nutriment, as the human foetus is known 

 to do, through the umbilical cord ? If this be the case, the same may be 

 presumed to hold good in Stylops ; the position of the larvae of that re- 

 markable insect being the same, with the head " immovably fixed just at 

 the inosculations of the dorsal segments of the abdomen" (Monographia 

 Apum, vol. ii. p. 111.); and thus a relation of affinity, as the cant term 

 expresses it, may be eventually established. I am, Sir, yours, &c. — 

 Edward Newman. Deptford^ Nov. 1831, 



Polyommatus ArgiohiSy or Azure Blue Butterfiy^ a douhle-brooded Insect. — 

 Sir, In reply to Mr. Bree's query. Vol. IV. p. 477., this species is without 

 a doubt double-brooded. I have seen living individuals in April, and again 

 in September this year (1831); and, although not an entomologist, have fre- 

 quently admired these lovely aeronauts spreading their azure wings, and 

 flitting from flower to flower. — W. R. Jordan, hugehay^ Teignmouth, 

 Devon, Dec. 4. 1831. 



Caterpillars found in a Booh {fig. 41.). — Sir, I enclose a sketch of 



the appearance of the leaves of a closed book, against which, between the 

 boards, were found, in July last, several caterpillars in webs, of which I 



