of some Itidimi Insects. 61 



as might be supposed by those who had not paid attention to the 

 subject. I ascertained this fact by carefully watching the insect seve- 

 ral times whilst feeding, and I invariably observed it eating the buds, 

 whilst the leaves around were untouched. This species of Lamia 

 may at times be detected in the tree by a grating noise, caused 

 by I'ubbing the back part of the head against the anterior mar- 

 gin of the thorax. When handled, this noise seems to be pro- 

 duced louder and more rapidly than on the tree, so much so that at 

 twenty paces distant it may be heard. The mandibles of the insect 

 possess great strength, a fact I am particularly aware of from having 

 once been bitten by one on my little finger, when it made its jaws 

 meet in the flesh, paining me exceedingly, and causing a wound 

 which, from not healing well, I shall long bear the mark of. While 

 the operation of feeding is going on, the antennae of the insect are 

 motionless, but upon touching them on the body ever so slightly, a 

 quick horizontal motion of these organs (probably the result of fear,) 

 immediately commences, and is continued for some time. I have only 

 observed this insect upon the Pipal tree, where however it may be 

 taken abundantly. I was not able to obtain any information re- 

 specting the immature states of this species. 



If diligent search be made under the bark of the Mango {Man- 

 gifera indica) and Lichi (Dimocarpus Litchi), the Cossyphus planus. 

 Fab., (depressus, Lat.,) will be found. The remarkable flatness of this 

 insect allows it to creep into very narrow cracks and crevices of the 

 bark, so that in searching for it every interstice ought to be well 

 examined. When the bark is removed, the insect is found adhering 

 to the tree ; and as it remains motionless in that position, it may 

 easily escape notice, the colour of the bark being very similar to that 

 of the insect. I have taken several of these insects near Calcutta, 

 in Garden Reach, but never in any abundance ; generally singly. 



The Cicindela sexpunctata, Fab., is frequently taken during the 

 evening in the apartments at Calcutta. They are attracted by the 

 light of the lamps, and to an accustomed eye may easily be distin- 

 guished by the rapidity with which they dart round the light, and 

 almost immediately settle on something near. It is somewhat diffi- 

 cult to catch them in their night excursions, they are so very quick, 

 and fly off^ the moment an attempt is made to capture them. Although 

 frequent in the rooms during the evening, I have never seen the in- 

 sect but once during the day ; a circumstance arising, I should think, 

 from my not knowing where to find it at that time. 



Another species of Cicindela, which I propose calling limosa, and 

 which is probably undescribed, was captured by me one evening in 

 abundance, and only on that one evening, whilst in a boat at anchor 



