6 



18th to May 28th, and sparingly during the first half of June. 

 Owing probably to continued dry weather many imagos 

 were unable to leave the bark, and occasionally one of the 

 last to emerge was found with permanently dull-red elytra 

 and thorax, or more commonly among the small males, with 

 black thorax and red elytra. The imago varies from 3 to 

 6.25 millim. in length. The first pairs coupled, or showed 

 signs of coupling, May 20th. The genitals were not kept 

 continuously in contact, but a light touch was given at very 

 regular intervals of two seconds, during which the male 

 tapped the sides of the female with the tibiae of the fore pair 

 of legs. 



The principal parasite observed was a Chalcid, probably 

 belonging to the genus Storthygocerus Ratz., 1.5 to 2.5 millim. 

 in length, which preys upon the larva of Magdalinus, and 

 completes its transformations in advance of the beetle. It 

 pupates about the first of May, the imagos appear about the 

 13th of the month, and by the first of June another brood of 

 larvee appears preying upon the few pupse of Magdalinus 

 which have not yet transformed. Two other parasites upon 

 the larva of Magdalinus appear to be ichneumons, one of 

 which transforms within the larva-skin of its host, and the 

 other weaves a pupa-case of its own. The imagos of the last 

 two parasites do not appear before July, and were not ob- 

 served. H. Gr. Hubbard. 



1. Ratzeburg (Forst-Insecten, I, 2te Aufl. p. 125. Taf. IV fig. 3.) describes 

 the habits of M. violaceus Lirm. living under the bark of Pine on small 

 branches or young trees, and notes also M. aterrimus Fabr. as living in a 

 similar manner upon Ulmus campestris of Europe. (1. c. p. 125.) 



A very careful description, with figures, of M. carbonarius Fabr. living 

 on Pinus maritima, is given by E. Perris (Annales de la Soc. Ent. de France, 

 1856, p. 253 et seq ) 



Say, (M. armicollis Say, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philad., Ill, 1823, p. 

 312) has described only the red form, probably immature males. His M. 

 barbitus (Descr. of Cure, of N. Am., 1831, p. 6.) is probably the variation 

 with red elytra and black thorax (all small immature males). It seems 

 also that M. pallidus Say. (1. c. p. 7.) must be referred to this species. 



Entomological Excursion to Mt. Washington. — Some of the mem- 

 bers of the Club, with other entomologists, will spend several weeks this 

 summer on Mt. Washington, in a camp one-fourth of a mile below the 

 Half- Way House, and two hundred feet from the carriage road They ex- 

 pect to leave Boston June 25. Other entomologists are invited to join the 

 party. B. Pickman Mann. 



