2 8 PSYCHE [February 



and the images are commonly taken on the foliage. The species, being carnivo- 

 rous, probably has no relation to the button-bush except through its relations with 

 other insects. 



Larvae were found among the roots and moss in early spring; pupae were found 

 early in May, and one of these, with the larval skin still enveloping the apex of the 

 abdomen, and serving for certain identification, was bred on the i8th of May. 

 About the same time two teneral imagos were found among the moss enwrapping 

 the roots of a button-bush. I have previously recorded (Amer. nat., vol. 34, p. 

 371) that fully matured beetles are commonly found eating the nectar flowing from 

 weevil wounds at the base of the flowers of the blue flag. 



As the immature stages of this interesting beetle seem not to have been 

 described hitherto, and as it is of somewhat different type from the larvae of other 

 well-known Lampyridae, I deem it worth while to add descriptions herewith of larva 

 and pupa. 



Larva : — Length 19 mm., abdomen 11.5 mm., width of head 1.5 mm., of abdomen 3 mm. 

 Body nearly cylindric, dorsum well rounded, widest across the base of the abdomen, and 

 tapering somewhat to both ends. Body segments of nearly equal length, those of tlie base 

 of the abdomen being slightly shorter and wider, at the sides well rounded, with evident con- 

 strictions between the segments. 



Coloration obscure; head dark chestnut brown, paler about tiie base of antennae and 

 mouth-parts. Body olivaceous above, paler below ; .skin finely granulate and covered with a 

 line and dense pubescence which gives it a decidedly velvety appearance. Thorax with a pale 

 median longitudinal line, and ( )-maiks at the sides of each segment with a large brownish, 

 longitudinally placed, elliptical mark on each side midway between the ( )-n)arks and the 

 median line. Abdominal segments each with a very narrow, pale, basal, median, longitudinal 

 line or dasli, either side of which is a similar oblique, nearly transverse, dash ; farther out on 

 the sides of the segments and much farther backward are two broader dashes on eitlier side. 

 These are placed side by side and a sinuous, and continuous, paler longitudinal line extends 

 between them. Farther down upon the sides is a less distinct, similar line in wiiich tlie 

 spiracles are situated. 



Head quadrangular, longer than wide, slightly narrowed just before the hind margin, thinly 

 clad with yellow, spinous hairs. Labral margin squarely truncate, with a low broad quad- 

 rangular tooth in the middle, isolated by a minute cleft of the margin either side of it. Mandi- 

 bles long and strong, regularly arcuate and tapering to a strong point, with a simple strong 

 tooth on the inner border at two thirds their length. Eyes bead-like projections upon the 

 lateral margin at the base of the antennae. Antennae two-jointed spinous, the second joint 

 slightly longer than the first, obliquely truncated at the tip with the longer angle the internal 

 one, and bearing on the end an external flabellum, and a slightly longer, conical rudiment of 

 a third joint which in length about equals the width of the 2d segment. Basal segment of 

 both labium and maxillae Ijing in one plane and densely covered below with a growth of 

 spinous yellowish hairs. There are abundant hairs also on the ventral side of the mentum 

 of the labium, and on the apical margins of all the remaining segments of both maxillae 

 and labium. The maxillary palpi are 4-jointed, the length of the segments from the base 



