1891.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 23 



Observation 3. Very similar to observation 2, only a number 

 of ants assisted the beetle by removing the dirt scraped out by 

 the latter. 



Observation 4 Early in Spring I found a number of these 

 beetles mating above ground. Confining some in a low round 

 jar, filled with earth to a depth of three inches, they soon disap- 

 peared from the surface. They lived in this jar for about two 

 months, mostly hidden in the earth, but whenever the jar was 

 exposed to the warming influence of the sun the beetles reap- 

 peared upon the surface and moved about rather actively for such 

 slow insects. Several times they attempted to fly away. As I 

 Wished to obtain the eggs, I investigated the soil, and found a 

 very peculiar structure in it, as illustrated in figure in natural 

 size. The cavity was rather smooth inside and large enough to 

 harbor the five pairs of beetles living in the jar. No eggs were 

 discovered, but all ten beetles were found dead in the room made 

 by themselves. As the upper roof of the nest was broken up in 

 removing the soil from the jar, I do not know whether there was 

 one or more entrances to this room. 



Next season I intend to establish a formicarium with such 

 beetles, with the view of studying the relations between them and 

 the ants. 



If I recollect right the locality for Omus submetallicus Horn 

 seems to be in doubt. I have recently obtained a specimen from 

 Washington. 



o 



LIST OF LEPIDOPTERA TAKEN AT ELECTRIC LIGHTS 

 IN BROOKLYN, WITH NOTES THEREON. 



BY RODRIGUES OTTOLENGUI, M.D.S. 



I am only a beginner, this Summer having been my first season, 

 nevertheless I am told that my catch has been a remarkable one; 

 remarkable in that it shows what may be done by thorough work 

 in a single section. Seventy-five nights this Summer my sister 

 and myself were out with our nets and bottles. The first night, 

 early in May, we walked about aimlessly till we found an electric 

 light near the ground, and here, and at the one next to it, we 

 took fifty insects, the first being a Luna, which my sister cap- 

 tured. I will say here that, though we took other specimens of 

 Luna, afterward we never took one having, like this one, a dis- 



