1920.] 207 



the four alKlominal se^rments to which tliesc hairs are attached, somewhat after 

 the fashion of the hiths of a Venetian blind. lie kept these larvae for upwards 

 of a month in company with others of a voracious nature, and observed that 

 on any of the latter coming in contact with them, they erected their abdominal 

 brush, ou which they (the latter) receded, and that it was only by the sudden 

 movement of tlis brush that the alarm was caused. lie further states that the 

 long- brush of hairs springing from the telum, or terminal joint of the abdomen, 

 is also of i-ervice as a means of defence. When the larva is walking, it is 

 always kept in a tremulous motion, and thus defends it from attack in the rear. 

 He found the larvae during the winter months under loose bark of elm trees,, 

 and invariably in company with a particular species of spider, which spins a 

 web-like case, in which it lives, and vpon which he believed the Tiresias larva 

 fed. He say.s here we see the especial necessity for this protection, without 

 whicli it would soon be devoured by the spider. He reared several specimens^ 

 but having misplaced the jar in which they were kept, did not see the pupa. 

 In 1S36 he recorded that he had reared some more specimens, and that the 

 pupa assumed that state (as many of the Diptera do) within the case of 

 the larva ; but in this instance the larva-case is slightly open at the back ; the 

 pupa in otlier respects resembling that of other Coleoptera. 



Weslwood, in 18.39, figures the larva; he quotes Waterhouse's observa- 

 tions, and mentions that Curtis says it feeds in the winter on wood-lice. 



Penis, in 1846, describes and figures the larva. He found many examples 

 together under bark of oak, and fed them on dead flies. He says thev no 

 duiibt feed on smnll insects, and that the tail hairs are used to frighten away 

 enemies. 



Sturm, in 1847, mentions that the larva occurs under bark, and feeds on 

 the remains of insects. 



Chapuis and Candeze, in 185.3, describe and figure the larva and mention 

 that the terminal segment bears a sheaf of long hairs directed behind, which 

 has some analogy to the tail of a horse. 



Kawall, in 1SG7, records finding the larva amongst old fungus on 

 Pimis abies. 



Grenier, in 1870, found larvae at Rochefort which were devouring the 

 eggs of [Porfhetriaj Liparis dispar. He look home a number of them, and 

 they changed to adults in three months. 



Carpentier, in 1877, gives a short description of the larva, and savs its 

 habits are similar to those of Mefjatoma undata. He captured larvae under 

 elm-bark at Saint Fascien, in the winter, and reared many specimens, feeding 

 them on dead flies. He says the perfect insect hatches in June in the same 

 way as A7it/irenus. 



Rey, in L887, says the larva lives under bark of old trees, and feeds ou 

 divers caterpillars. 



Fowler, in 1889, gives a short description of the larva, and quotes 

 Westwood and Chapuis and Cand6ze. Pie says it is found much more com- 

 niunly than the perfect insect in localities where the latter occurs under bark 

 of elm, willow, oak, etc., and may easily be reared. 



Decaux, in 1891, records that he found larvae under baik of a plane tree. 

 He says that they eat little insects, and that he bred a number, feeding them 



