THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 99 



From the above list it would seem that toads can hardly be called 

 useful, seeing that such a large proportion of their food — if we take this 

 one for a standard — consists of decidedly beneficial insects. I will allow 

 that they are very desirable tenants for the owners of gardens, but in the 

 woods they must be formidable rivals to the entomologist. This year 

 they have been unusually abundant, and the rarity of many of our beetles 

 is no doubt caused by their rapacious appetites. 



I have not taken C. frigidum before ; ' the Dicer ca is also new to me. 

 I find it very difficult to determine my captures, and a serious obstacle to 

 taking satisfactory notes. I am indebted to W. H. Harrington, of Ottawa, 

 for the naming of a considerable number last winter. C. calidum Fabr. 

 also seems to be quite rare here ; I made special search for it this spring 

 and found but one specimen. I took another on October 27th last year, 

 from the heart of a decaying log. Is it double brooded in this part of 

 Ontario ? Or would it be possible for one attaining the perfect state in 

 June to live through the summer and survive the winter ? The specimen 

 I captured in October had evidently prepared to hibernate. On June 

 15th, I found under stones on dry ground a pair of Calosomas which are 

 entirely new to me. I expect though I could name them from the Society's 

 collection in London. 



I should have been surprised to find so large and active a beetle as 

 C. frigidum falling a prey even to the biggest of toads. The Buprestidae 

 must also be rather tough morsels for them to digest. It will ever remain 

 an open question as to whether " our departed friend " lost its life through 

 its own greediness, or met a violent death at the hands of one of its many 

 foes. I have read of some ardent collectors who secured many rare 

 beetles by capturing and killing the toads they found in their rambles. 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



Dear Sir: As I am working out the Phycidce and Galleridce of 

 the whole world, with the view of publishing a monograph of these 

 families, I shall be very happy to receive boxes of Canadian and any 

 other P/iycidce and Galleridce to name for any of your correspondents. 

 I only desire that when possible two or three specimens of each species 

 may be joined to the consignment in case I should not possess the 

 species. I will send European Microlepidoptera in return if desired. 

 My monograph will comprise* twelve plates, containing upwards of two 



