APPENDIX, 467 
buried in the cracks of the wood. This clearly proves that the eggs 
are laid in autumn, 5 
“That a cavity in dead or rotten wood is the natural place of oviposi- 
tion is not proved, but is rendered in the highest degree probable, when 
it is remembered that no other arrangement that I previously tried had 
any success in inducing oviposition. It becomes further, therefore, 
probable that the mite-like young larve are met with by the wasps in 
collecting the wood shavings for nest building, probably usually one at a 
time, and a nest contains a succession of paradoxus, because the same 
post or stick over which the beetle larve are wandering, is constantly 
frequented by the wasps of that nest, whilst those of other nests, free 
from Rhipiphorus, do not happen to have visited such a post. Though my 
observations will well bear refutation or confirmation, there remains really 
only one matter still unknown, and that is ;—When do the eggs hatch ? 
From thedelicatenature of the eggs I incline to believe that the young larva 
is developed in the autumn, but hibernates unhatched within the egg- 
shell, Those eggs that I found laid in the wood cavities were either 
infertile or injured by my examination, or they went mouldy instead of 
developing. Whether any I did not disturb may have been more lucky 
will not appear till next spring, but T much doubt it. 
“The eggs are spindle-shaped, 0.47 mm, long and 0,2 mm. in diameter, 
of a pure milk-white, and are laid somewhat irregularly, but with a 
tendency to be packed closely side by side. Mr, Fowler appears to 
entertain the idea that the egg is laid in the wasp cell; this may justify 
my stating two reasons why this would be extremely improbable, even 
if I had not otherwise rendered it practically certain that the actual 
habit is very different. First, a personal reason; I have met with 
hundreds of Rhipiphorus in all stages, only once as a free larva, but 
abundantly within the wasp larva, and at all stages forward to the per- 
fect beetle, but have never seen any indication of an egg within the cell. 
Secondly, the wasp develops with extreme rapidity, yet the Rhipiphorus 
keeps up with it, or, indeed, overtakes it ; there would thus be really 
no time for the development of the young larva within the egg, even 
were it as rapid as is at times the case in Chrysis. The nature of the 
ovipositor, egg, and young larva, nevertheless, plainly indicates that 
the larva must take some time to mature in the egg, and that the species 
is not viviparous.”’ 
The characters given for the family Anthicide on pages 3 and 83 of 
Vol. V. apply to the British species only: in Mecynotarsus, Laf., the 
penultimate joints of the tarsi are not bilobed, and the eyes are larger 
in proportion than in Notorus and Anthicus. T am indebted to Mr. 
Champion for kindly sending mea specimen of M. serricornis, Panz. 
(rhinoceros, F.) taken by Mr. J. J. Walker at Besika Bay : it is about 
1; mm. in length and resembles a minute Notoxus, 
Hh 2 
