THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 137 



attention to the fact that we do not possess the true C. flavi- 

 l^ibris in this country. There would seem to be a number of 

 blue species closely allied, and we may yet add to our list in 

 this genus. 



Cryptocephalns vittatus, Fahr. — Specimens are extant in 

 several old collections, but, like Onthophagus Taurus, I 

 believe all came originally from Jersey. 



C. Querceti, Stijfr. — Two specimens of this species were 

 taken by the Rev. A. Matthews, one I believe in Sherwood 

 Forest. It is only like C. frontalis, from which, however, the 

 absence of the yellow markings readily distinguishes it. 



(To be continued.) 



G. R. Crotch. 

 University Library, Cambridge. 



Life-history of Sesia beniheciformis. — As this is a most 

 injurious species to our black poplar growers in South Lan- 

 cashire and the adjoining low lands of Cheshire, and also to 

 the willow and osier growers in the same districts and in 

 other places in the North of England, it has a claim on our 

 attention ; and though some of our entomologists may know 

 a little of its history, it may be that a life-history, given by 

 one who has made injurious insects his study, may please if 

 it does not instruct his friends. The eggs are deposited in 

 June and July in the bark of Populus nigra (black poplar), 

 the only species of the genus obnoxious to its attacks, and 

 upon the various species of Salix (willows and osiers), with- 

 out any regularity, sometimes a few here and there, and at 

 other times a whole batch are laid in a solid mass ; they are 

 of a reddish brown colour : they hatch in a few veeks, and 

 the young larvae spread themselves over the surface of the 

 bark, searching for a crack in which their juvenile mandibles 

 can make perforations : once fairly under cover they seem to 

 rest for a \e\\' days, and they then enlarge the hole, and, 

 going deeper and deeper, they reach the inner bark of the 

 smaller trees, where they remain eating the bark and sap- 

 wood until autumn, when they have attained a length of 

 about three lines ; they then penetrate the timber, and about 

 tlie tbllowiug June they throw out much frass from an ovaJ 



