64 



THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



Physokermes abietis, since he gives it under both host-names 

 (1900, p. 391). Giraud (Ann. Soc. France, 1877, p. 433) also 

 bred Tetrastichus melanopus, Forst. ; but that Eatzeburg also 

 raised Entedon turioniim, Htg., appears doubtful, for, though 

 given under this species in the host-table, only Lepidoptera are 

 specified in the text, of the significant genus Coccyx. So abun- 

 dant are its parasites that fifty per cent, of this species are said 

 to be destroyed in Delamere Forest by Encyrtus scaurus, Walk., 

 though Newstead had not met with it elsewhere (Brit. Cocc. i. 31). 

 I suspect Microterys tessellatus, Dalm., of preying largely upon it — 

 though not yet bred thence — since it is an abundant species on 

 the spruce trees about Brandon, Sufi'olk, in May. 



(To be continued.) 



NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS. 



The Tapping of the " Death Watch Beetle." — I never could 

 believe that these beetles struck up their sexual dirge by hammering 

 their heads on the deal boards, and in my collection I find an 

 Anobiwn striatum spread out so as to show a small 

 horny plate, a, at the extremity of the body, which I 

 believed, as I still believe, is the plectrum that sounds 

 the monitory music when the beetle takes it into its 

 head to scrape it over a ridge, h, at the extremity of 

 the wing-cases. I used to believe the stricB in the 

 hollow beyond the ridge, as previously suggested 

 p (Westring), were the origin of the sound, but I now 



'^ ' recognize it is the ridge ; the best imitation of the 

 tapping has always been made ^v^th the finger-nail. 

 When not in use, the horny plate is folded back. In 

 Anobium tessellatiim, which is larger, these structures are better 

 seen. — A. H. Swinton. 



Pupation of Xanthorhoe (Melanippe) fluctuata. — With refer- 

 ence to your note in the ' Entomologist ' (vol. xlii. p. 317), perhaps 

 the following may be of interest. On November 29th I obtained 

 from wallflowers in my garden two full-grown larva) of M. fluctuata, 

 one light-coloured with the usual markings, the other dark and 

 slightly larger. These were kept under observation in a small glass 

 jar containing a little earth, the jar being covered with leno. The 

 dark larva spun a cocoon on December 10th, the other on December 

 11th. On December 23rd the dark larva moved to one side of the 

 cocoon, pupating during the evening ; on December 26th the light 

 one pupated in the evening. The pupa at first was light green with 

 a cream abdomen, and has since changed to the normal brown 

 colour. I might add that I tried forcing pupse of this species last 

 year, but was unsuccessful. — S. W. Gadge ; 59, Frankfurt Eoad, 

 Heme Hill, S.E., January 6th, 1910. 



Microscopes and Accessories. — We have received from "Leitz," 

 the well-known opticians, of Wetzlar (also 9-15, Oxford Street, W.), 



