10 [June, 



bred a few, but tbesc were always sitting outside on the rim of the tin, or on objects 

 near, and I reiTi3mber being puzzknl at the time to account for their getting out in 

 this way. Here, too, I found no trace of any cocoon loithin the fin among the 

 leaves. I now fancy that the cocoons must have been spun in spring at the top or 

 outside, where, of course, I never thought of looking for them. 



If I am right in this conjecture, it is probable that a large number of Nepticula 

 larvEe escape from us in spring-time, and spin up at large ; for we never think of 

 looking to see if our vessels are tightly closed at this time, and our failures may be 

 due to this and not to the death or di-ying up of the insects. 



In the case of sericopeza, the larvpe may either remain in the fallen keys during 

 the winter, or emerging therefrom may hibernate in the ground, ascending in spring 

 to spin their cocoons. — Id. 



The young larva of Coleophora lixella. — Wliilst gathering blades of grass con- 

 taining larvae of Elachista stahilella, I observed a plant of Dactylis ylomerata, with 

 two white patches, on which were two brown specks. On closer examination, these 

 proved to be each a dry calyx of thyme, and the young larvfe were still feeding within 

 them on the grass-blades, ejecting their " frass " from the end. Though the fact of 

 Coleophora lixella feeding at first on thyme has long been known, I am not sure 

 whether this particular habit of the larvae, after hibernation, feeding in spring 

 within the old flowers has been recorded. — Id. 



[It being news to me that \ he young larvae of C. lixella continued to use their 

 thyme-cases whilst actually feeding on the grass, I wrote to Mr. Warren for further 

 details on this point, to which he replied. May 9th, as follows : — " You were quite 

 right in thinking that the young larvae of C. lixella, while still in their thyme-cases, 

 fed on the grass ; but on the 30th April, I found that one had left the old case and 

 cut a piece out of the side of a blade of grass, with which it has fashioned a new 

 case, still quite small, and the other has since done likewise." This reminds nic 

 that, when, in 1854, I was staying at Box Hill from the 14th to 17th April, I found 

 far more grass leaves mined by the larvae of C. lixella than I could find cases of the 

 larvae ; at tliat time I was only acquainted with the grass-made cases, and, therefore, 

 looked only for them, had I then known of the thyme-calyx cases and looked for 

 them, I should probably have had a more successful hunt. I remember that I came 

 to the conclusion that the larva of Coleophora lixella, unlike its congeners, had a 

 habit of wandering far from the leaves on which it had fed. Now, after an interval 

 of 29 years, with additional information, the matter appears in a different light. — 

 H. T. S.] 



Coleoptera from the ri'.-iiiify of a7it.s' nests, Chohham. — Whit Monday being a 

 warm, more or less rainy, day at Chobham, I established myself under some trees 

 growing on a bank on Chobham common, and hunted for Coleoptera under dead 

 leaves, &c., at the base of the bank, I soon found that there were two ants' nests in 

 the vicinity : one oi fuligiiiosa, and another of rufa ; rifa seemed to hold entire 

 possession of one part of the hnxikjfidifjinosa of the other, on one occasion I saw 

 one of each species meet, and fuliginosa had to succumb to the strength of rufa. 



