NOTES, CAt>TURES, ETC. S55 



victim. I also obtained two larvae which were infested with 

 a species of Chalcididce, the two larvae producing sixty-three 

 imagos, these forming pupa-cases or cells within the larvae. — 

 G. C. BiGNELL; Slonehouse, Plymouth, October 6, 1878. 



Classification of Insects. — Having read with interest 

 certain essays from the pen of the late Edward Newman, that 

 have appeared from time to time on the classification of 

 Insecta, may I be allowed to call attention to additional 

 evidence adduceable from the evidence of the higher organs 

 of sensation — sight and hearing? Here the presence of 

 auditory organs and well-developed eyes place the Oithoptera 

 first in the list; these would be followed by Homoplera 

 (Cicadidce), where the auditory organs are highly developed, 

 but sight less potent; next to which appear to come Lepi- 

 doptera, where the Nocturni have well-defined auditory 

 organs, and the Diiirni excellent optic organs; tlien would 

 follow Coleoptera, which certainly give evidence of possessing 

 auditory apparatuses in two groups, Lamellicornia and Lon- 

 gicornia, allhough in the latter the visual organs are imperfect. 

 As far as I can learn the species of Hymenoptera, Neuroptera, 

 and Diptera, have the auditory sense, if present, less potent; 

 but sight, smell, and touch are evident. This perfectly har- 

 monizes with the circular view given in the Ent. Mo. Mag. iv. 

 236. — A. H. Swinton; Binfield House, Waterden Road, 

 Guildford, October 11, 1878. 



Aphidivorous character of the TELEPHORiDiE. — I have 

 further confirmed my last season's observations on the 

 Aphidivorous character of the Telephoridce. 1 have many 

 times seen, e.ff., RhagoriycJia vielanura sitting on the flower of 

 a thistle, and on a hasty glance it might seem to be seeking 

 honey like the bees and butterflies ; but on closer inspection 

 the insect's head was always found turned to the outside of 

 the calyx, and in every case Aphides were there present. In 

 this district the Telephoridce have been much scarcer than 

 usual. This season also I have not seen a single Byrrhns 

 along a certain road where, during the summer of 1877, I 

 met with them daily. — J. VV. Slater; 3, Bicester Road, 

 Aylesbury, August 7, 1878. 



Stridulation of Pelobius Hermanni as expression 

 OF EMOTION. — I recently put a specimen of Pelobius Her- 

 manni in water with a Ranatra linearis. The Ranatra 

 seized at the beetle but missed it, when the beetle sounded 

 its usual shrill grating note as though under the influence of 

 fear or anger. — A. G. Lakek; Court Hill Road, Lewisham. 



