Reports to various Correspondents. 103 



line ou each side extending from tlic base to the apex. Antenna' 

 with distinct three-jointed chib ; legs reddisli, testaceous. The accusa- 

 tions against it are quite correct, for it frequently does much harm 

 in its larval stage by tunnelling into wine corks. It is also found 

 in refuse heaps, especially of hay and straw, in dung, especially stable 

 dung, and in corn bins. Although it occasionally does much harm 

 by tunnelling into corks, its normal food seems to be fungi, especially 

 the fungus that grows round beer drippings on the floors of cellars. 



It is recorded from most localities in the south and midland 

 counties, and is especially abundant in the London district ; in the 

 north it is scarcer, gradually becoming more so in Scotland. It also 

 occurs in Ireland at Dublin, Belfast, Waterford, etc. 



\. ALomaria nigri'pennis, Payk. 



This small beetle occurs in cellars; feeding on fungi; it is scarce 

 and local, rare in the London district. It was taken in abundance 

 in a cellar at Gloucester. It is 1^ to 1-i mm. long, with head and 

 thorax bright red and the elytra black ; antenn;e red, a deep fold on 

 each side of the thorax ; the elytra are strongly widened before 

 the middle, finely punctured, black, with the extreme apex and 

 shoulder dull yellow ; legs testaceous. It does not attack corks. 



VI. OrtJioperns aiomarrits, Heer. 



A very small beetle, ^ mm. long, found with the previous species 

 at Gloucester. It evidently feeds on mycelia, as one dissected by 

 Professor Harker has the cesophagus full of chopped mycelium. It 

 is pale testaceous, the sides and apex of the elytra rather darker. 



It feeds on the fungus Zasiiiidivm cellar c, according to Professor 

 Harker, and cannot be looked upon as otherwise than beneticial. 



VII. Cryptophagus cellaris, Scop. ; C. crenatus, Herbst. 



Often abundant in cellars amongst refuse, fungi and heaps of 

 corks ; it also occurs in haystack and tlood refuse. It is a small 

 beetle varying from 2 to 2f mm. long, ferruginous in colour, finely 

 punctured and clothed with thick dense grey pubescence ; on the 

 elytra it is longer and arranged in rows ; the rather long elytra are 

 widened a little in the middle, thickly and finely punctured ; legs 

 testaceous. I feel sure it feeds only on debris and fungi and does 

 not attack the corks in bottles. 



Undoubtedly certain beetles lay their eggs in corks before they 

 are used, because the wax has been seen perforated by the exit holes 

 of some Coleopterous insect. 



