1^2 [August. 



Fhysocephala nigra, Deg., in the New Forest. — By an unfortunate error, the 

 generic name of the Dipteron recorded by Mr. F. C. Adams, at p. 162, ante, was 

 rendered as Chrysocephala, instead of PhysocephaJa. — Eds. 



The development of the scale in a female Lecanium. — In a privet hedge in my 

 garden a single shoot of hawthorn has grown up, and after being annually cut down 

 to the level of the privet has, for four or five seasons, been allowed to remain so as 

 to attain a small head. On this plant I once introduced some Pulvinaria oxyacanthee, 

 and have nursed the progeny since, with the exception of two alternate intervening 

 years, when they were not apparent. This year, in May, instead of this species, I 

 saw fixed on a low branch six small female scales of Lecanium genevense just starting 

 on their post-hibernal career, and daily watched the manner of their development ; 

 the process was very rapid, occupying about a week, and being without previous 

 record, so far as I know, I think it is worth noting. Down the whole of the dorsal 

 middle, the texture there being very thin and soft, the scale without actual fissure, 

 seemed to open out widely and at the same time the gap thus apparently made filled 

 up from beneath the old sides, with an extending skin-like membrane lighter and 

 brighter in colour than the old and remaining portion of the scale. On the new 

 part was depicted a white figuration, in form eventually like the vertebrse of a flat 

 fish, the whole scale becoming as its enlargement proceeded more and more convex 

 and shining. In another week or so the full normal rotundity was attained, the 

 white markings disappeared, the ground-colour became duller, the surface irregularly 

 pitted and wrinkled, as in the usual condition of maturity. 



I saw no male scales ; they had doubtless fallen off after the exit of the winged 

 males, and these again had perished immediately after they had fulfilled the purpose 

 of their bi-ief existence.— J. W. Douglas, 153, Lewisham Road : June \Zth, 1896. 



Insectivorous Insects. — On June 13th last, while strolling through my favourite 

 woods, I noticed a specimen of Neoitamus cyanurus sitting upon a bracken frond 

 with unwonted contentment. Upon capturing it I found it to be a <? , which was 

 holding between its anterior legs an apparently scarcely dead specimen of Hejnalus 

 hectus, c? . This moth is common hereabouts, and if many Neoitami make as hearty 

 a mid-day meal as that I took they should have a pretty good time. I have often 

 noticed the pugnacious proclivities of the AsilidcB, especially DioctricB, and the 

 manner in which they will swoop, sometimes from a considerable distance, upon their 

 prey, but upon all previous occasions it has been various species of AnthomyidcB. and 

 Muscidce, and never a Lepidopteron that has suffered. The Seplalus had probably 

 been resting, as is often their wont by day, upon the under-side of the frond. 



The majority of Fossores are essentially insectivorous, yet the case of Melliiius 

 arvensis with Syrphiis ribesii between its mandibles, at almost the same spot in 

 July, 1893, may be of interest, especially as I doubt if the former could have taken 

 the latter upon the wing, for what eye can follow the dart of a hovering fly ? and 

 even when settled upon a neighbouring twig or leaf, to wliich, like Apatura Iris, 

 they almost invariably return, they are excessively wary and difficult to capture. 

 The subject appears of great interest to me, and to open out a field of investigation 

 as yet unworked. — Claude Moeley, Ipswich : July, 1896. 



