1914.] 285 



killed the insects. This difficulty was overcome by obtaining the 

 water from a point on the coast several miles seawards. 



After many failures during 1895-6, I succeeded in 1897 in rearing 

 two examples to the imago stage. They were larvae in February, and 

 matured on June 12th following. Except for a distinct deficiency in 

 size they were perfect specimens, and I still possess them in my collec- 

 tion, as well as several of the cast skins of other individuals. What 

 the creatures fed upon I am unable to say, but it must have been 

 something provided by the slimy stones. It is hardly conceivable that 

 the insects lived for four months and endured the physical strain of 

 one or two moults without sustenance. 



In connection with the question of food I may say that I do 

 not know whether the setae of the proboscis vary in form in the 

 species of Hemiptera allied to Aepophilus, but in a comparison recently 

 made by me of the setae of the latter with those of Salda cocksii, Curt., 

 I could detect no important differences. 



After 1897, I had to desist from further research on account of 

 a change in my home arrangements. Circumstances have never since 

 been favourable to a renewal of the work, and as it now seems that 

 an opportunity is not again likely to occur, I thought it desirable to 

 make known such results as I had obtained. 



It may be well to add further that instinctive solicitude for the 

 young is much in evidence with the species. It was common to see 

 in my breeding cage, on the underside of the stone, a circle of young 

 with an adult in the centre, the heads of the immatures being all 

 oriented towards this centre. On my lifting out the stone the adult 

 would almost instantly alarm the young with a rapid tap with each 

 antenna alternately, and the whole troop would scamper round to the 

 other side of the stone with great speed. 



Aepophilus, mature and immature, has been taken by me from 

 February to October, inclusive. I have no record of searching for it 

 in the three remaining months of the year, bxit it is, I think, quite 

 safe to conclude that it breeds and can be found in all its stages 

 throughout the year. 



7, Whimple Street, Plymouth : 

 October 30th, 1914. 



