^70 The Irish Naturalist. [November, 



ZOOLOGY. 



Naturalists in Sligro. 



Two well known members of the Conchological Society, Dr. Chaster 

 of Southport, and Mr. Collier of Manchester, have had a most successful 

 ten days' collecting tour in the northern Lake District, in company with 

 Messrs. Bigger, Stelfox, and Welch of the B.N.F.C., visiting Lower 

 Lough Erne and its islands, the district south of Lough Macnean, Lough 

 Gill, Glencar, and Inishmurry. The return home was made via Bundoran 

 to visit the dunes where so many reversed, &c., Helices have been 

 found, and with some success, Dr. Chaster finding one living specimen. 



INSECTS. 



A Braconid parasitic on Anobium domestlcum. 



Some time ago these beetles {Anobiuni) attacked the pedestal of a 

 valuable table. I then applied carbolic acid and hoped to have stopped 

 the mischief. Last year Mrs. Johnson informed me that the attack had 

 recommenced, and brought me a small Ichneumon fly which she had 

 found running about the table and which she was inclined to partly 

 blame for the harm done. Last month she again drew my attention to 

 the presence of these Pymenoptera, and having captured some specimens 

 I sent them to Mr. E. Saunders who kindly forwarded them to Mr. Claude 

 Morley, and he pronounces the insect to be Spathiiis exarator^ L. Anobium 

 domesticum is a small brown beetle which bores into wood, making little 

 holes like shot holes. The beetle and its larva feed on the wood, and in 

 course of time quite destroy it, eating away the solid substance and 

 leaving a residuum of dust. In old houses they are often far too plentiful, 

 and at times do much injury to woodwork and furniture. The beetle is 

 one of the Death-watch tribe, the noise which it makes being supposed 

 to be caused by its tapping with its head as a signal to its mate. It is 

 very pleasing to know that so destructive an insect has a natural 

 enemy in this Braconid, and I should recommend all householders when 

 they observe a little fly, with what would be taken for a long and vicious- 

 looking sting, hovering about a room, not to assault it with the poker or 

 a slipper, but to allow it to pursue unmolested its appointed task of 



reducing the numbers oi Anobium. 



W. F. Johnson. 



Poyntzpass. 



Vanessa lo in Co. Londonderry. 



With reference to Miss Campbell's capture of the Peacock butterfly 

 ( Vanessa io) near Londonderry {supra, p. 246), I may mention having seen 

 one many years ago at Kilderry in the same neighbourhood. I made a 

 note of the occurrence at the time, but am unable now to lay my hand 



upon it. „^ _ ^^ 



^ W. E. Hart. 



Howth. 



