OF WASHINGTON. 395 



All of the galleries that I have been able to find, with the ex 

 ception of those made for exit and entrance, are longitudinal, 

 often nearly straight for the greater part of their length, but more 

 or less undulating in places. They are quite long and I have 

 found it difficult to trace them through their entire length, as 

 they are so often interrupted by the burrowing of their neighbors ; 

 still, as a rule, they run parallel with each other and conflict only 

 at the larger ends. 



With regard to the development and duration of life in this 

 species, considering what has recently been published in Insect 

 L ife (vol. iv, pp. 94, 131, 268), there is quite a diversity of 

 opinion. My observations, although fragmentary, indicate the 

 existence of onlv a single annual generation in nature. There is, 

 however, the possibility of an exceptional biennial development. 



The life-history has not yet been fully made out, but it has been 

 ascertained that the imagos remain in the wood from the time they 

 mature, which is probably during August, and do not leave it 

 till early in April, when they gnaw their way out to light, re- 

 enter the wood almost immediately afterward and begin the work 

 of the continuation of the species. 



Under the head of exhibitions of specimens and presentation of 

 short notes, Mr. Schwarz showed larvae and imagos of Silpha 

 ramosa which had been found abundantly last May on the dry, 

 open prairie lands at Tenino, State of Washington. From the 

 absence of any decaying animal or vegetable matter near these 

 places he thought that the food of this species consists of grow 

 ing plants. In this connection he pointed out that the European 

 vegetable-feeding Silpha opaca occurs in North America only in 

 the arctic and high-alpine regions, and that its reported occur 

 rence in Nebraska and elsewhere was no doubt erroneous. In 

 reviewing the food-habits of the genus Silpha he referred also to 

 the insectivorous and tree-inhabiting Silpha (Xylodrepa] 

 quadripunctata, and expressed the opinion that the importation 

 and acclimatization of this and another common European beetle, 

 Calosoma inquisitor, possessing similar habits, as enemies of 

 Ocneria dispar, could be accomplished without great difficulties. 

 Prof. Riley said that he had already called the attention of the 

 Gypsy Moth Commission of Boston, Mass., to the desirability and 

 feasibility of introducing these and other enemies of Ocneria 

 dispar. Mr. Ashmead asked Mr. Schwarz whether he had no 

 ticed in Florida a carabid which climbs trees in search of prey, 

 and Mr. Schwarz replied that the few Carabidas peculiar to 



