XXVlll 



according to Kiefier, are mainly in the neuration. Hamm's 

 specimens show a distinct median vein as well as a basal. 

 These are said to be absent in formiciformis, but Westwood's 

 type is too clogged up with gum to permit the wings to be seen 

 distinctly. Still I think Kieffer is probably right in what he 

 says. On the other hand, he declares in his key that the 

 scutellum of formiciformis is ' without a cross furrow, 

 which in my opinion would be remarkable. I find, however, 

 that Westwood's type Tias the cross furrow, so that in one 

 point at least Kieffer is inaccurate. How far one can trust 

 him in other respects I don't know. And there is, of course, 

 the further question of the value to be attached to such differ- 

 ences as he has noted. I hope later to take up the genus 

 Cephalonomia when completing my work on grain pest 

 parasites. I shall then be glad to go most fully into Hamm's 

 interesting material. Meantime I can only say that I do not 

 feel justified in referring these specimens to Westwood's 

 genotype." 



The habits described by Mr. Hamm confirmed the account 

 given by A. H. Haliday in the Ent. Mag. II, pp. 219-221 

 (1835). He here stated that on the 5th of " last " June, 

 j)resumably in the year 1833 (for his paper appeared in the 

 number published April 1834), he observed a female Bethylid 

 carrying a full-fed Tineid larva at the sand-cliffs, doubtless 

 in the neighbourhood of Dublin. The Bethylid had seized 

 its victim by the underside of the mouth so that it was dragged 

 along on its back, and on one occasion when a different hold 

 had been taken and the larva's ventral surface was under- 

 most, inconvenience was caused by the feet grasping objects 

 on the ground. But the Bethylid quickly discovered its 

 mistake and took a new hold in the usual position. The larva 

 was, Haliday believed, about six times the weight of its captor, 

 and it was being carried up the sliding sides of a pit in the sand. 

 The efforts of the Bethylid and the use it made of grass, twigs, 

 etc., to aid its ascent are described in much detail. When it 

 had climbed up about two feet it came to a piece of reed 

 partly buried in the sand and open at its lower end. Here it 

 fixed its prey between two shreds of leaf, explored the bank, 

 descended the reed, entered the hollow stem from below. 



