208 THE entomologist's record. 



large and leaden, were on every blossom, whilst Larentia apicata, 

 L. caesiata, Mdanippe montanata , and Carsia imbatata were frequently 

 noted. Scapula alpinalis and S. pJiri/rfialis, Setina irrorella (no S. 

 aurita), Hi/percallia cliriatiernana, Thera shnxdata, and other species 

 were noted. The only Anthrocera on these banks was A. achilleae, but 

 the species was infrequent, and, although some of the species had a 

 small apical spot (as in Zeller's from Bergiin), others were pretty typical. 

 Merritieldia tridactijla (tetradactyla) flitted freely over the grass where 

 thyme grew ; Adkinia coprodactyla was fairly common, whilst Crambns 

 conchellua was often noticed. Several species I cannot name offhand, 

 and these must stand over, bu^i the two lovely days had produced an 

 excellent bag, and given a hint of at least one corner of Zeller's 

 favourite haunt. Next day we would go to Bergiin, at least one day 

 must be spent between Preda and Bergiin, and the morning broke de- 

 lightfully, yet before 7 a.m. it was clear that the day was going to be 

 hopeless ; dense cold fog drifted up the valley, the bright scene that I had 

 witnessed a few minutes before was blotted out, and the temperature 

 fell at least 10'^ to 20° in a few minutes. I went on setting and 

 packing all the morning, and at last recognised that my holiday had 

 come to an end. In the afternoon I was at the station, and went 

 through Bergiin in fog, which had changed to blinding rain by the 

 time we arrived at Tiefenkastel, and we were glad enough when Thusis 

 was reached. Somewhat dissatisfied then with the scurvy treatment 

 meted out to us, because of the complete failure of our hopes so far as 

 regarded collecting between Preda and Bergiin, we can now look back 

 to our short stay on the Albula as comprising two of the most lovely 

 collecting days that we have spent among the summits of the high 

 alps. 



A few Notes on Cryptocephali. 



By H. St. J. K. DONISTHORPE, F.Z.S., F.E.S. 



Having taken a good many of our species of Cryptocephalus this 

 year, a feAV notes on them may be of interest. All the species lay a 

 covered egg, as Chjthra and Labidostmids do, and I collected many of 

 these eggs {(Ji/nandrophtlialma alfinis also lays a similar egg, and I 

 have obtained and had figured the covered egg of this species) which 

 they let fall. The larva, when hatched, builds a larval case on to this 

 egg-case, and those that I have been able to observe feed on lichen on 

 trees. Dr. Chapman sent me a larva in a case, taken on lichen on a 

 tree in the New Forest. This pupated, and when it hatched it proved 

 to be ('. parndns. Some have been recorded to pupate in ants' nests, 

 though I personally have never found any in such places. The 

 perfect insects are taken by sweeping, and on bushes and trees, young 

 oaks, hazels, birches, etc., and feed on the leaves, consequently where 

 the perfect insects occur has nothing to do with the habitat of the 

 larvae. 



Cryptocephalus bipunctatus, L. — It will be remembered that last 

 year my friend Mr. Mitford swept a pair of this species at Niton, in 

 the Isle of Wight. Not enough was made of this discovery, as it was 

 practically an addition to the British list, only the vars. lineola, F., 

 and thompsoni, Weise, having been found up to then in Britain. One 

 of Mr. Mitford's specimens has the elytra almost entirely red, and the 



