20(5 [November, 



1. Whole of intermediate left tarsus ; three terminal joints of right anterior tarsus. 



2. Whole of anterior tarsus, and there only remained a tiny stump of the posterior 



tibiae on the right ; whole of anterior leg and of posterior leg on the left. 



3. Four apical joints of antenna, and whole anterior tarsus on the left ; whole in- 



termediate leg on the right ; both posterior legs. 



4. Of the right anterior tibia only the basal third remained. 



5. Of the right posterior leg the coxa alone remained, with a tiny stump of the 



anterior tibia; on the left the intermediate tarsus was missing, and the pos- 

 terior leg was amputated near the apex of the femur, which appeared to have 

 healed, the apex of the stump being rounded and deep black towards its 

 extremity. 



6. Perfect. 



7. Right anterior tibia ; left posterior tarsus. 



8. Left posterior tarsus. 



9. Apical third of last antennal joint on the left. 

 10. Perfect. 



These CryptopJiagus lycoperdi were taken from a single Sclero- 

 derma vulgare (a puff-ball) in Dodnasli Woods, near Ipswich, on 

 September 28th, 1899. Their habitat quite precludes, I imagine, the 

 possibility of formidable foes, and it is difficult to believe that an 

 insect, simply immersed in its natural food-stuff, would attack another 

 of the same species if they should happen to meet, though the latter 

 contingency is the only explanation of this wholesale mutilation 

 which presents itself. Eighty per cent, is a very high rate, and one 

 whose effect upon the species cannot be gauged till the functions and 

 per centage of the antennae alone are ascertained. 



This will, however, tend to confirm Mr. Butler's caution of not 

 at once conceding to Mr. Tuck's hypothesis that, in the case of C. 

 fuhescens, it was the host who caused the damage wrought. It would 

 be exceedingly interesting to note if a parallel obtains in the other 

 species of the genus. C. scanicus, for example, is almost invariably to 

 be obtained by leaving a loaf of bread in a wood for a few days. It 

 is of no use examining cabinet specimens, since those found to be 

 damaged would, of course, be excluded, and, even if present, doubts 

 might be entertained whether the injury were not sustained at the 

 time of, or subsequent to, capture. 



It seems hardly probable that these small beetles meet in suffi- 

 ciently awkward situations in a great wasp's nest, or even in the 

 confines of a fungus to warrant this wanton mutilation of one another. 



Ipswich : October 10th, 1899. 



