116 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



NOTES AND OBSEEVATIONS. 



The Tapping of the " Death Watch Beetle." — In reference 

 to the note by Mr. A. H. Swinton {antea, p. 64), I must dispute his 

 theory as to the method by which the beetle sounds the " moni- 

 tory music." Years ago I used to stay at Fehxstowe in an old stud- 

 and-plaster house with my family for summer holidays. The timbers 

 there were infested with " Death Watch Beetles," and we frequently 

 heard their tapping. I could make precisely the same " monitory 

 music" by tapping on my watch-case with my finger-nail, and the 

 beetles would answer me. By this means I discovered the where- 

 abouts of several specimens, and they were duly pill-boxed. My 

 captives responded to my tapping with the lid partly open, and I saw 

 they produced the noise by hitting the box with their heads. I would 

 advise Mr. Swinton to experiment as above, and he will find my 

 statement correct. — E. F. Bisshopp ; 32, Museum Street, Ipswich, 

 February 2nd, 1910. 



[The above note should have appeared in our last number, but 

 we regret that, owing to want of space, it had to be omitted there- 

 from. — Ed.] 



I see there is an article in the March number of the ' Entomolo- 

 gist ' by Mr. C. J. Gahan, M.A., and he states he has never witnessed 

 the act of tapping by an Anobium, but suggests a method for the 

 purpose. In my former note I not only stated how the insects might 

 be found, but also how to treat them to induce them to produce the 

 tapping. I may add one or two other facts from my practical 

 experience : — 1. The taps certainly do not exceed from five to six on 

 an average, though I am not prepared to dispute Mr. Derham's 

 statement that they do go to as many as seven or eight. 2. When 

 tapping, the beetle rises on its legs and rapidly hits with its head 

 downwards right on the " forehead." I can quite believe the Eev. W. 

 Derham of two hundred years ago was " a most accurate and minute 

 observer." I should very much like to see the article where "he has 

 explained in full detail how the Anobium, or Greater Death Watch 

 [the insect to which I refer] , makes its ticking noise." — E. F. Biss- 

 hopp : March 11th, 1910. 



HiBEENACULUM FOE Vanessa 10. — A lady living at a short dis- 

 tance from Cambridge writes on March 3rd : — " We have a great 

 many 'tortoiseshells' and 'peacocks' in the house ; I found no fewer 

 than eight 'peacocks ' in an old skirt last month." — F. Merrifield ; 

 14, Clifton Terrace, Brighton, March 5th, 1910. 



The Clark Collection. — The concluding portion of the collec- 

 tion of British Lepidoptera formed by the late Mr. J. A. Clark was 

 disposed of at Stevens's Auction Eooms on Tuesday and Wed- 

 nesday, February 22nd and 23rd. It consisted of the latter half 

 of the Geometers, the Micros, and sundry odd lots of duplicates, 

 &c. The first few lots found tardy buyers at small prices, but on the 

 varieties of Abraxas (jrossulariata being reached some little life was 

 imparted to the proceedings; a good specimen of var. alboviarginata 

 brought £3 5.s. ; a rather nice form In'oadly l)ordered with black and 

 the hind wings slightly rayed £2 2.5. ; one with basal half of fore 



