THE society's NOTE-BOOKS. 51 



living between the cuticles in the same manner as the larva of the 

 Turnip-Beetle, H. nejnorum. 



The drawing is from the slide now sent, but of course it gives 

 no idea of the colour of the living insect ; the wings also are not 

 shown. When living, the beetle is black underneath, and of a 

 dark metaUic green colour above. On attempting to catch them, 

 they make a spring and drop on to the ground, folding their 

 legs under the body, apparently feigning death. 



John Carpenter. 



Notes on Haltica. — Haltica fuscipes, Haltica 7iemoruvi^ and 

 Haltica cojichma. In modern nomenclature there is no such 

 thing as either of these insects. The first is Podagrica fuscipes^ 

 the second Phyllotreta 7iemorum, and the third Plectroscelis 

 co?icinna, all belonging to the sub-family HalticidcB. Some of the 

 distinguishing characteristics are as follows : — The genus Plectros- 

 celis has the posterior tibiae toothed in the middle of the outer 

 side. The genera Haltica^ Podagrica^ and Phyllotreta^ have no 

 tooth on the outer side of the tibiae. In the genus Haltica there 

 is a transverse furrow at the base of the thorax. The genera 

 Podagrica and Phyllotreta have no furrow at the base of the 

 thorax. In the genus Podagrica the clyta have punctured striae ; 

 and in the genus Phyllotreta the elytra is either confusedly punc- 

 tured or smooth. There are other characteristics, but the above 

 suffices to at once separate the four genera mentioned. 



Robert Gillo. 



Ichneumon Flies from Chrysalis of Butterfly. — In August, 

 1872, I obtained a chrysalis of the Atalanta butterfly, which had 

 the appearance of burnished gold. I placed it in a glass-top box, 

 and waited for the development of the butterfly, instead of which 

 I observed two small holes in the case, and issuing therefrom in 

 quick succession was a number of beautifully-coloured Ichneumon 

 flies in a perfectly developed form. Being somewhat surprised at 

 this and at the number, which amounted to 157, I carefully 

 opened the deserted chrysalis, and there found an equal number of 

 cast skins, which had just been thrown off previous to their 

 emerging from the case. How so great a number could exist and 

 go through their metamorphoses in so small a space to me appears 

 marvellous. 



James Fullagar. 



