Notes upon the Food of Predaceous Beetles. 165 



patient watching — for they are very timid — the proof was 

 conclusive that the unripe seeds were what they were after, 

 and not microscopic insects as was at first supposed. 



The insect is not only cunning, drawing up its legs and 

 dropping to the ground upon the least disturbance, after 

 the manner of a Chrysomelid, but also shows considerable 

 ingenuity. It grasps the lower extremity of tlie glume 

 tightly in its mandibles, then relaxing slightly, passes up- 

 ward and again tightens its grasp, — a series of movements 

 which finally force the seed, which is now of the consist- 

 ency of cream, out at tlie apex. This it at once proceeds 

 to devour with an appetite which reminds one quite forci- 

 bly of a tramp who has been obliged to earn his dinner in 

 advance. Later in the season it is found feeding in the 

 same manner upon the seeds of Agrostis vulgaris Witt. 

 Sijecimens of Anlsoddctylus haltimorensls Say were ob- 

 served feeding upon the marrow and fatty matter clinging 

 to the tibia of some dead animal, probably that of an ox. 

 Attention is called to this as l^eing in perfect accord with 

 microscopic observations reported by Mr. Forbes in the 

 following paper, upon another specimen found upon grass 

 a few months later. 



Calathus gregarius Say may be found abundantly upon 

 the heads of timothy grass during the early mornings 

 of the first of July. Of the genns Platynus only a single 

 observation has been obtained, and this was during the 

 latter part of June of the present year, when two speci- 

 mens of P. (■uiyi'ipeniils Say were seen harassing a half- 

 grown cricket, which they had already disabled. The car- 

 nivorous habits of beetles are often as difficult to discover 

 as their vegetarian. Usually they are not at all in favor 

 of public dinners, and, like beasts or birds of prey, prefer 

 to drag their victims to some secluded nook to devour them ; 

 hence, if the observer gets any insight into tliis part of 

 their domestic afi'airs he must take them by surprise. In 

 this manner a StapJiylmus cinnamopterus Grav. was sur- 

 prised while in the act of devouring an Anotiioglossus pusil- 

 lus Say, having first, to guard against its escape, eaten off 

 four of its legs. 



In another instance a Dyschlrius glohulosus Say was ob. 



