THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 65 



immensely, and with them the number of genera nsed to 

 contain them, yet our knowledge of the fauna of the world must 

 be now sufficient to form a very fair general sketch of a 

 group, into which new material may be fitted almost in- 

 definitely. 



O. R. Crotch. 

 University Library, Cambridge. 

 April, 1866. 



Entomological Notes and Captures. 



Ticking of the Death-watch. — At a late Meeting of the 

 Entomological Society, Mr. Smith said that a correspondent 

 of his had recently inquired of him whether there was- any 

 truth in the statement that the soft-bodied little Alropos pul- 

 satorius makes a tapping noise like that attributed to Ano- 

 bium ; and the same correspondent also expressed his doubt 

 as to Anobium making a tapping noise. On the latter point, 

 in spite of the oft-repeated and commonly received statement 

 that the "death-watch" made a distinct tapping against (say) 

 an old wainscot and on the outside of it, as if lor the purpose 

 of notifying his presenc-e to the female within, he (Mr. Smith) 

 shared the doubt of his correspondent, and believed that the 

 only noise made by the Anobium was caused by its gnawing 

 the wood internally, and that there was no external tapping 

 at all. He had himself met with instances in which the in- 

 ternal gnawing of wood by insects was distinctly audible, 

 and, in particular, he mentioned the case of a rustic garden- 

 seat from which proceeded a noise like many watches siujul- 

 taneously ticking, and which was solely caused by xylopha- 

 gous insects. Several members said that, as they understood 

 the popular account of the Anobium, the tapping was not 

 represented as being external ; it was the fact of the noise 

 being heard, whilst nothing was visible which could be 

 suggested as producing it, that caused the ignorant to dread 

 the so-called death-watch. — At the next Meeting of the So- 

 ciety, Mr. Smith said the remarks he had made at the pre- 

 vious Meeting, as to the tapping noise alleged to be made 

 by " death-watches," had induced Mr. Henry Doubleday to 

 send hin) an account which showed that his (Mr. Smith's) 

 doubt was, as to Anobium at all events, unfounded. Mr. 



