Anobiina.] SERRICORNIA» 187 
noises are going on, but is very distinct in the stillness of the night; as 
this sound would chiefly be heard by people sitting up through the 
night to nurse friends or patients who are seriously ill or dying, it has 
come to be associated by the superstitious with approaching death, and 
hence the name of ‘‘ Death Watch” has been given to the insects, as 
the noise somewhat resembles the ticking of a watch; thus the poet 
Gay says, ‘The solemn death watch clicked the hour she died ;” the 
sound is certainly a somewhat monotonous and worrying one, as I can 
testify from hearing it night after night in a room in which I used to 
sleep at Gloucester; it is produced by several species, but those best 
known are Anobium domesticum and Xestobium tessellatum. In the 
Entomologist’s Monthly Magazine, vol. 1. p. 279, Mr. F. Smith records 
his observations as to the habits of the latter species ; he says, ‘ Taking 
a lead pencil, and giving half-a-dozen taps in rapid succession on the 
table, close to the box in whieh they had travelled, they shortly com- 
menced to answer. Raising themselves on their anterior legs, they 
commenced bobbing their heads up and down rapidly, tapping with 
their mandibles ou the bottom of the box. This performance I could 
elicit almost at pleasure; the number of taps varied from four to five— 
usually five are given.” Some authors have held the opinion that the 
larvee also produce the sound, and that they do so by tapping in order 
to ascertain the thickness of the wood that is left between them and the 
surface ; there does not, however, seem sufficient evidence to warrant 
the acceptance of this belief. 
The larvee of Anobiuwm domesticum sometimes do very great damage to furniture, 
and are the cause of the little round holes which we so often see in old cabinets, 
chairs, &c., these being the entrances to their galleries; they may to a great extent 
be got rid of by the application of benzine with which a smal! quantity of carbolic 
acid has been mixed ; if the furniture is delicately polished, the benzine had better be 
applied alone; unpolished furniture would be best freed from the pest by immersion 
in boiling water, if the articles are not too unwieldy to admit of such treatment ; 
moderately strong carbolic acid will at once destroy both grubs, eggs, and perfect 
insects, but the furniture to which it is applied will require repolishing. 
I. Elytra with punctured striz distinct, at all events at 
sides ; posterior coxee distant. 
i, Antenne subcontiguous at base, with the last three 
joints slender and long, especiallyinthemale . . . Dryopuitus, Chevr. 
ii. Antenne distant at base, with the last three joints 
enlarged, evidently broader than the preceding. 
1. Thorax not margined at sides . . .. .. +. « PRioBium, Mots. 
2. Thorax margined at sides. . . . J) dae) s)  ANOBLUM, Ht, 
II. Elytra without punctured striz ; posterior coxze con- 
tiguous. 
i. Tarsi with the fifth joint broad; tibie stout . . . . XESTOBIUM, Mots. 
ii. Tarsi with the fifth joint elongate ; ; tibie slender . . ERNosius, Thoms. 
DRYOPHILUS, Chevrolat, 
This genus contains seven species, all of which inhabit Europe ; 
