1807. 279 
gative cxperiinents may be conducted, must bo my excuse for again bringing it 
before the notice of our readers. 
At the time at which Mr. PifFard wrote, I not only satisfied myself of the 
correctness of his statements, but obtained the following still more remarkable 
result, which consists in the fact that when the newly-spun thread (arranged as 
suggested by my friend) is damped by gently breathing upon it, a contraction of 
one-half the length takes place within the space of a few minutes. — H. G. Knaggs. 
Capture of Drypta emarginata near Gosport. — During the last fortnight I have 
been fortunate in securing between forty and fifty specimens of this pretty species, 
off a grassy hedge-bank at Rowner. I find they congregate together in parties of 
three or four at the roots of grass. They appear to me to be of a sluggish disposi- 
tion, as, when disturbed from their haunts, they do not seem in any gi-eat hurry to 
get away. — G. H. Lacy, 2, Chester Place, Stoke Road, Gosport, April 9th, 1867. 
Note on Anohium tessellatum, — At a meeting of the Entomological Society, 
about twelve months ago, the subject of the tapping of the death-watch and other 
insects formed one of the subjects discussed on that occasion. The report of that 
meeting elicited from my friend, Mr. Henry Doubleday, very decisive and satisfac- 
tory information as to the habits of the death-watch ; its method of iDroducing the 
tapping was minutely detailed. Accompanying this history was a promise to 
send living insects at that time of the year when these rappings or love-calls are 
most frequently heard. 
I have this day received a pair of Anohium tessellatum, with full instructions 
how to induce the insect to repeat his rapping performance. Having left the insects 
in quiet some time, in order that they might recover the effects of their transit by 
post, I proceeded to follow the directions given. Taking a lead pencil, and giving 
half-a-dozen taps in rapid succession on the table, close to the box in which they 
had travelled, they shortly commenced to answer. Raising themselves on their 
anterior legs, they commenced bobbing their heads up and down rapidly, tapping 
with their mandibles on the bottom of the box. This performance I could elicit 
almost at pleasure ; the number of taps varied from four to five — usually five are 
given. The insects have kept on repeating their love-call at intervals throughout 
the day. I fancy they are a couijle of males. After inciting them to tap once or 
twice, they become restless, and run about the box, occasionally stopping, as if 
listening for a repetition of the sound : a few taps with the pencil sets them off 
again. Of course, all this was most satisfactorily demonstrated by Mr. Doubleday 
twelve months ago, as well as by numerous previous observers ; but at the time 
when the subject was before the Society, I exjDressed some opinions of doubt, and 
I wish to show my perfect conviction of the powers of Anohium, this being the first 
time I ever had an opportunity of witnessing the actual mode in which the insects 
produce the tapping sound. 
I have been carefully listening for some sound from J.iro^os ^MZsaioria, which 
is said to produce similar noises ; this, I must confess, I have still some doubts 
about. I have kept several some months in a box close at hand on my table, but 
up to this time they have made no sound. The Anohium has been at work all the 
day long. — F. Smith, British Museum, April, 1867. 
