SUMMER CHAFER. 81 
Therefore I do not insert the various Scotch and English notes of its 
presence sent me during the past season ; but as its larva, or grub, is 
to a great extent taken as the type (save in size, or some few pecu- 
liarities) of the other three kinds here mentioned, I add the description 
by the Rev. Canon W. W. Fowler as being serviceable for trustworthy 
reference :— 
“The larva of Melolontha vulgaris, the Common Cockchafer, has 
been described by many authors; it is large, thick, and fleshy, of a 
dirty white colour, with the head ferruginous and shining, and the legs 
pale ferruginous; the antenne are a little longer than the mandibles, 
and are 4-jointed; the anterior pairs of legs are rather shorter than 
the intermediate and posterior pairs, which are of equal length; the 
segments are transversely rugose, and the last is large and apparently 
divided by a false articulation; the upper surface of the body is 
furnished with short upright bristles, and long separate hairs which 
are intermingled with these; the pupa is rather large, with the 
abdominal portion slightly curved, but does not present any striking 
peculiarities.”’ * 
The Summer Chafer, Rhizotrogus solstitialis, L., is about half the 
size of the Cockchafer, and very like it, excepting not being prolonged 
into a tail-like extremity, and also in being much more covered with 
longish fine hair. The length averages three-fifths of an inch; the 
general colour clayey or yellowish; the wing-cases, with the suture 
and outer margin, somewhat darker than the disc, which has four 
slightly-raised whitish lines; the legs reddish. 
The larve, as mentioned at p. 24, are exceedingly like those of the 
Cockchafer. + 
On July 16th some specimens of this chafer were brought me as 
samples that appear every year in the higher part of St. Albans, near 
the cemetery. The observer had not noticed them iow down, but 
flying round the chimneys, and on the green trees. 
This agrees with the description of their habits given by Dr. 
Taschenberg (see reference) :—‘ In the evenings from the second half 
of June onwards the males swarm around the low trees over corn- 
fields, and round the heads of foot-passengers, whilst the females rest 
on grass, or corn, or other plants near the ground.” A few days after 
pairing, egg-laying begins. The white roundish eggs are laid singly in 
the earth, up to twenty or thirty by one female. From this frequent 
creeping in and out, the hair is gradually rubbed off, so that the 
* «British Coleoptera,’ Fowler, vol. iv. p. 51. 
+ A minute description will be found at p. 44, part ii., of ‘ Praktische Insekten- 
Kunde,’ by Dr. E. L. Taschenberg. 
