Ig [January, 



November 5th, in nests of Formica rufa. These two were the only ones seen, 

 althoii<5-h I examined the contents of two nests. For the identification of both 

 species I am indebted to Mr. Donisthorpe. — Harold E. Box, 55, Baxter Avenue, 

 Southend-on-Sea, Essex : November 15th, 1916. 



Raphidia xanthostigma Schumvi. in Middlesex and Essex. — Amongst a num- 

 ber of miscellaneous insects collected by myself during 1915 were two examples 

 of this uncommon Snake-fly. One of these, a male, was taken at Pinner Hill, 

 near Northwood, Middlesex, on May 24th. It was the only specimen retained 

 from about a dozen seen resting on the bark and leaves of oak and willow trees 

 on the edge of a brook. Two days previous I had been fortunate in capturing 

 a single female in Epping Forest. This specimen was beaten from undergrowth 

 of bramble, etc., in Fairmead Thicket. On June ISth of the following year, 

 whilst searching for Coleoptera under beech bark at High Beech, Epping Forest, 

 I found a nearly mature snake-fly larva. On disturbance it exhibited its 

 characteristic habit of running backwards with its head waving from side to 

 side, and rapidly disappeared in a burrow in the bark. On splitting open the 

 piece of bark the creatiu'e fell out and was captured. This larva was killed and 

 mounted, and has since been submitted to Mr. K. J. Morton, through whose 

 kindness the two imagines were determined. Mr. Morton was of the opinion 

 that it also was R. xanthostigma, but suggested a comparison with Waterhouse's 

 figures and description of the larva of Raphidia ophiopsis Schunim. (Trans. Ent. 

 Soc. Lond., I, 1836, p. 23). I have dissected out the mouth parts, and they agree 

 with Waterhouse's figures. McLachlan, in his " Monograph of the British 

 Neuroptera-Planipennia " (Ibid., 1868, p. 159), says with regard to R. xantho- 

 stigma : " It is the species to which Mr. Waterhouse's account of metamorphosis 

 will apply, according to his type." I believe that it is unusual for the larvae 

 of Raphidia to inhabit beech trees, but Mr. Morton is inclined to think that the 

 insects are more particular as to the condition of the bark and wood than to 

 the species of tree. My larva was taken from a tree which had been felled for 

 some years, bub although damp and fungoid in places, the wood was qviite sound. 

 I had some little difficulty in removing the bark from the part from which the 

 larva was taken. — Harold E. Box .- December oth, 1916. 



Calliphora vomitoria captured by an oyster. — About the middle of last 

 September, on opening an oyster from a small consignment that had been sent 

 to me from Whitstable, I was much surprised to observe a large "blow-fly" 

 (^Calliphora vomitoria) struggle out from between the shells as soon as the oyster 

 knife had cut the adductor muscle. The fly was sufficiently strong for flight, 

 and immediately flew to the nearest window, where it was captured. Examination 

 showed it to be a large female fly and quite unhurt. When the shells were 

 separated a number of eggs of this fly were visible on the upper side of the 

 oyster, but none had so far hatched. Unfortunately, although the fly and 

 oyster were covered by a bell jar, both were lost by a meddlesome servant before 

 it could be ascertained whether the eggs were viable and would hatch. 



Oysters have been recorded as " capturing " many inhabitants of their 

 own domain, and even the feet of shore wading birds have been imprisoned 



