154 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



larger, only two specimens, all the others belonging to the second species. 

 I submitted the beetles to Dr. G. H. Horn, and received the following 

 kind answer : 



" The beetles are not specifically known to me. The Lydus (the 

 numerously represented species) is different from any we have. The 

 other is a Bostrichid, and is allied to Siiioxylon. There is just enough to 

 show that the last three joints of the antennae form a loose club as in 

 Shioxylon.^'' 



Therefore as the beetles are not yet known living in the U. S., they 

 must have been imported from China, and lived and propagated in the 

 bamboo box. I remembered directly a similar fact represented in the 

 biological collection here. In 1870 was presented by Mr. J. H. Hubbard 

 from Detroit, Mich., a piece of Supple-tack, a vine of Jamaica, imported 

 nine years ago. Only during the last two years was observed fine mealy 

 dust dropping out of numerous small round holes. By splitting the stick 

 many living beetles and larvae of a species of Lyctus Avere discovered. 



I tried to make out the Chinese species, but Harold's Catalogue has 

 no species of Lyctus or Sinoxylo7i from China. Lewis's Catalogue of 

 Japan has Lyctus brunneus Steph. By comparing the description and 

 figure in Steph. Illust. iii., p. 117, pi. 18, f. 4 (Wollaston Ins. Mad. were 

 not at hand), and Kiesenwetter, Insect. Deutschl, v., p. 17, I suppose 

 that the Jamaica species may be L. brunueus. This insect is given as 

 imported by trade into Germany, and has been raised by Mr, Fuss out of 

 walking sticks made from the so-called Cuba vine. 



I compared the Jamaica and the China specimens, and find the latter 

 ones identical with the smaller specimens of the lot from Jamaica, as I 

 was not able to find any difference. But some of the larger specimens 

 from Jamaica have a decidedly stronger sculpture on the thorax. Being 

 well aware of the difficulty of determining species of Lyctus, and not 

 having to compare a specimen of L. brunneus, I may only draw the 

 attention of American entomologists to this species. It would be sur- 

 prising if a species so widely spread and imported into Germany to the 

 Baltic shores, and Hving in the Antilles Islands, should not be found in 

 the United States. Considering the species near Sinoxylon, I am not able 

 to give a determination. The larvae in the bamboo box belong very pro- 

 bably to Lyctus. 



In my Bibliotheca, ii., p. 499, are related all cases of insects boring 

 through metals, mostly lead. I do not know if block-tin is known as in- 



