434 Billings on the Fine-boring Beetles, 



cimen on which the specios M. titillator was founded is an in- 

 sect from the Southern States, it may be that they have applied 

 the name to our most common and largest species. This question 

 however, remains to be decided by further observations. 



There are in the collection of McGill College three specimens 

 from Toronto, of the size of the smaller individuals of M. confusor^ 

 which have a light reddish tinge diflferent from the usual colour of 

 that species. I have also seen several specimens from Lake Sim- 

 coe, in the collection of Capt. Rooke of the Scots Fusilier Guards, 

 which seem to be of the same colour as those of McGill College. 

 I have never seen this variety in the valley of the Ottawa, and it 

 may be peculiar to the western part of the province. Whether 

 or not it will constitute a distinct species, remains for our entomo- 

 logists to determine. 



The first two of these species, M. confusor, and M, scutellatus, 

 attack and destroy great quantities of pine timber. No doubt the 

 other two species do also prey upon the pines, but I have never 

 yet observed them ; and, in fact, they appear to be either rare or of 

 a limited geographical distribution. The trees attacked by them 

 are the white or Weymouth pine, {Pinus strohus) and the red pine, 

 IP, resinosa) the two most valuable timber trees of Canada. 

 The female Monohammus during the summer and autumn lays 

 her eggs in crevices in the bark both of the standing trees, and of 

 those which are dead and lying on the ground. The larva, after 

 being hatched, soon acquires strength of mouth sufficient to enable 

 it to work its way deeply into the wood. There it remains about 

 a year, boring a long winding gallery nearly half an inch in di- 

 ameter sometimes into the very heart of the tree. As the time 

 approaches for its final transformation, it turns, and works out- 

 wards towards the surface ; just before reaching which it enters 

 the chrysalis state. When the perfect beetle is developed, it soon, 

 with its powerful mandibles, gnaws a passage for itself to the open 

 air. I am of opinion that the insect does not come out as soon 

 as the opening is made, for I have often seen them lying quite 

 motionless in iheir burrows, with the head just peeping through. 

 In this position the antennae are not visible, as they are laid back 

 on the sides of the body. On the 20th of July, 1860, while cross- 

 ing Mount Royal, I noticed in a fallen pine tree, on the top of the 

 mountain, several burrows in the bark, which had been lately 

 opened, and were empty. On examining further, I found three 

 others, with the head of a M* confusor filling each j on being 



