2^6 Short Communications : — 



Shaw, in his Zoology (vol. vi. p. 274. pi. 90. fig. 1.), as the larva 

 of the Tenthredo amerinae of Linnaeus, with which it *' cor- 

 responded in every particular." A larva, however, which he 

 took has since developed an imago ; and this, with the cocoon, 

 has been submitted to an eminent entomologist, who has pro- 

 nounced them of Trichiosoma lucorum; and also added : — 



" Tenthredo amerince Lin. is a very scarce insect; and, 

 although it is said to occur in Britain, I doubt the fact. One 

 mutilated specimen, of doubtful origin, is in one of the London 

 cabinets." 



Our correspondent thinks that the larva of Trichiosoma 

 lucorum, which displayed the facts described, might be a dis- 

 eased individual. If so, its acts may not be usual to the 

 species. Additional observation, which, as the insect is not 

 rare in Britain, many can give, is necessary to determine this. 



Ichneumons and other Hxjmenopterous Insects ; their Habit, 

 *when in a winged State, of devouring the Larvcc of other In- 

 sects, (VL 414- — 447.) In September, 1833, Mr. Newman 

 sent us a warm commendation of Mr. Lewis's interesting 

 discovery of this habit, as described, in a communication by 

 Mr. Westwood, in VL 414 — 419. Mr. Newman added: 

 " In saying that I have observed this larva-devouring pro- 

 perty in ichneumons, I would only wish to corroborate Mr. 

 Lewis's statement, not to claim the discovery." Of the 

 species of hymenopterous insects, carnivorous in a winged 

 state, Mr. Westwood has, in VL 417., instanced the Pimpla 

 stercorator (the species whose acts Mr. Lewis has there de- 

 scribed), wasps, and ants ; probably the Sphex sabulosa may 

 be added to these (see VL 477., and Gill's Technicolo- 

 gical Repository, for Oct. 1828); and possibly the species of 

 ichneumon which Mr. Newman has observed, in a winged 

 state, to devour larvae, are farther additions to the list of 

 hymenopterous insects which are, in the winged state, car- 

 nivorous. — J, D. 



Ichneumons; their Power of stinging (VI. 417. and note *), -— 

 To the facts and instances adduced there by Mr. Westwood, 

 two facts are given in Kirby and Spence's Introd., i. 121. 

 note *, which prove the same thing. — J, H, F. Dec. 1833. 



Ants conroeying in their Mouths other Ants of their own Spe- 

 cies (VI. 287. and 476.) ; and the Courage of the Wood or Fallow 

 Ant (Formica riifa). — On the habits of ants, I would parti- 

 cularly recommend to the reader the Natural History of Ants, 

 by M. P. Huber (translated by J. R. Johnson, MID., Lon- 

 don, 1820), as exceedingly interesting. According to my own 

 observations, the practice of ants carrying each other is very 



