23-1' [October, 



tionist to put forward the theory tliat the PsifJii/ri have sprung from 

 the Bonibi, with which they are inquilines in the manner indicated. 

 Not only is Psithyrus very similar in structure to Bomhus, but most 

 of its species bear a remarkable colour resemblance to the species 

 of Bomhiis with which they individually associate. 



It would be most interesting to ascertain if the relations between 

 the solitary bees and their inquilines, and those between Vespa rufa, 

 L., and its inquiline V. {Pseudovespa, Schm.) austriaca, Panz., are 

 similar, and could throw any further light on this interesting kind 

 of parasitism between the members of one family. 



Eipple Court, Dover : 



August Mill, 1899. 



Psocus major (Kolbe), Loens, in Co. Wexford. — Amongst some insects just 

 submitted to me bj Mr. Beaumont I find a good example of Ps. major, captured by 

 him, and labelled " Enniscorthy, 10.9.98." When recording a Norfolk example last 

 month the remark occurred that the species " only wants looking for." Its occurrence 

 in S. E. Ireland quite confirms this. The few specimens taken in this country 

 were not " looked for."— R. McLachlan, Lewisham, London : Sept. IMh, 1899. 



The use of the stalked eggs of Chrysopa as suggested by Dr. Asa Fitch. — I do 

 not remember to have seen quoted the following remarks on this subject, and yet, as 

 coming from one of the most observant of American entomologists, they deserve 

 being made more widely known. They occur in the "First Report on the Noxious, 

 etc., Insects of the State of New York" (1854), reprint, pp. V5, 76. "In a recent 

 communication I suggested that these eggs are elevated upon pedicels to prevent 

 their being found by the young larvae of their own kind, which probably would 

 instantly devour them if they were laid upon the surface of the leaves. To ascertain 

 more fully the correctness of this opinion, I sought an egg which was upon the 

 point of hatching, and placed it in a vial ; the next day a young aphis lion was 

 found disclosed from this egg. Two freshly laid eggs were now obtained ; one of 

 these was placed in the vial elevated upon its pedicel, the other was laid upon the 

 surface of a leaf in the vial. Next morning the latter was found flattened, and with 

 only a small portion of fluid remaining in one end, and the plump size and green 

 tinge of the young larva showed plainly that he had appropriated the missing 

 contents of the egg to himself, and in a short time he approached the egg, and in- 

 serting his jaws into it, wholly exhausted it of its remaining contents under my eye. 

 We thus see that the young apliis lion will devour the eggs of its own species if 

 they are placed within reach. Is it not wonderful that the female knows this fact 

 when no other insect possesses the knowledge ? It would seem as though she had a 

 recollection of what her own habits were in the larva period of her life." I am not 

 at all sure that Dr. Fitch's suggestion would meet with approval at the present day : 

 it is ingenious to say the least. Cannibalisui is probably the rule in aphidivoroui 



