184 [August, 



number of the same species Six males were seen to give chase to 

 females as they were circling round, and in each case both male and 

 female were netted and the prey found in the net ; in one instance 

 the male retained possession of the prey, and walked up the side 

 of the net still holding it. One pair was captured in cop., the prey 

 being in possession of the female ; in another case two males wen; 

 seen simultaneously to give chase to the same female. All three 

 Empids were netted, and two insects captured as prey were found 

 lying in the bottom of the net. On one occasion a male was observed 

 to chase a female and to be repelled twice; at its third attempt the 

 male was netted, ami nn prey was found in this instance. 



Visits were also made to the last named locality on the evenings 

 of June 30th, July 1st, 2nd, 4th, 6th and 7th, and on each occasion 

 many observations were made almost identical with those narrated 

 above. 



The above observations entirely confirm Mr. Hewlett's conclu- 

 sions. The following interesting questions are raised : —(I) Does the 

 male of Empis livicla devour prey, and if so, to wh -<t extent compared 

 with the female ? (2) Does the female obtain food independently of 

 that provided for her by the male, and if so, does she obtain it 

 before as well as after pairing? (3) How does the male disable 

 or kill the prey which he provides for the female ? The facts here 

 recorded show that the prey carried by the male is usually dead or 

 motionless. 



University Museum, Oxford : 

 July 9t/t, 1908. 



Quediu.s nifjrocacruleus, Huh. et Rey., Sfc, in Devonshire. — On February 8th, 

 I obtained two examples of Quediu.s uigrocoeruleus, Muls. et Rey., from moles' nests 

 in a meadow by the River Plym. There were also in the nests a great many 

 Staphylinid larvae, varying in size, but on an average about half an inch long. 

 Some score or so of these I have succeeded in rearing to maturity, and they prove 

 to be Q. nigrocoeruleus also. It seems therefore desirable to note the fact that both 

 perfect beetle and larva occur together. A few days later than above date I caught 

 two more mature examples of the Quedius, both in fine condition, in moles' nests 

 several miles distant from the first locality. This seems to show that the occurrence 

 of the first-named individuals was not irregular at all. 



I did not observe the larvce feed, but the following trifling incidents were noted : 

 April 29th, larva discovered in a cell it had formed in the sand at the bottom of the 

 feeding case (the cell did not appear to be lined in any way, and later on no traces 

 of any cells were found when the sand was thrown out), pupation completed 

 May 11th, perfect insect emerged early in June. May 1st, another pupa noticed ; 



