30 



In the 6rst instaace, Mr. Robinson thoiiglit that the specimen 

 was a true centipede, and was coafirraed in this idea by an 

 authority to whom it was submitted, but after a time he began 

 to suspect that both were wrong. 



On the first really warm day of the season the seagulls 

 disappeared ; no doubt their nesting time had come, but he had 

 a strong suspicion, proved by E. T. Booth in the case of ganaets, 

 that many sea birds, and also starlings and rooks, do not nest as 

 yearlings. If this is so, some of these would surely have stayed, 

 if the worms were still driven to the surface. 



He purposed capturing a few of the so-called centipedes, 

 which are often turned up by the plough, and by keeping them 

 hungry, exhibit their voracity on some unfortunate earthworm at 

 tliis meeting of the Brighton Natural History Society ; but 

 search was fruitless, and it occurred to him that some gentlemen 

 who had seen a specimen, and hinted that it looked very much 

 like the larva of a beetle, were right in their conjecture, and that 

 the creature had now passed into the pupa stage of its existence. 



Being in the neighbourhood of Kensmgton last week, he 

 took the opinion of the Curator of the Insect department of the 

 Natural History Museum on the speoiinen, and after careful 

 examination it was stated to be the larva of eome member of the 

 fumily Carabidae. 



Much interest was exhibited in its carnivorous habit, and 

 Mr. Robinson was told that comparatively little is known of the 

 life history of the carabid beetles. 



As additional proof of this theory it may be added that on 

 dissecting a Redwing thrush which had been shot in frosty 

 weather, there were found in the gizzard remains of both earth- 

 worm and beetle larvae. 



If the carniverous larvae drove the earthworm above ground 

 to fall a prey to the birds without injury to itself, there might 

 be danger of the extermination of a very important factor in the 

 world's fertility, as .Darwin tells us of the momentous part that 

 the worm plays in the formation of vegetable mould ; but as the 

 seamew devours both agressor and victim the balance of power 

 is not likely to be disturbed, and a meal is provided for the 

 hungry in a season of scarcity. 



