on the Bionomics of Southern Nigerian Insects, 437 
“<The natives state that if you step on it with bare feet 
the bristles pierce the skin of the sole and work into the 
flesh, causing inflammation and even gangrene. Native 
name “ Q-cisia’’ (= noli me tangere). I have seen a whole 
caravan of porters warning each other in this fashion when 
an Q-cisia was in the path: “Step to the side! There is 
an O-cisia!”’” 
May 28, 1915.—Last year Dr. Lamborn bred from a 
large snail which flourishes out here a number of beetles— 
Drilidae, 1 think. I never saw them. It was before I 
came back from leave. One day a week or two ago I saw 
a curious-looking larva—I had seen them before without 
understanding their significance—quite near to a snail 
shell. I had been in hopes that I might one day see Lam- 
born’s beetles in operation. I am not sure whether he 
saw what I am going to describe, but if it is old news it 
will at least be independent corroboration. The larva is a 
rather flat active creature, which I will describe when I 
send you a specimen. I sat down to watch its movements. 
It ran round the snail once or twice and then crawled on to 
the top of the shell. It then appeared as if it were about to 
crawl off again, but its posterior end remained attached to 
the shell while the head and legs were on the ground. ‘Tomy 
surprise it proceeded to push the snail backwards by extend- 
ing its own body, in a manner recalling the Scarabs, except 
that the snail was shifted bodily and not rolled or trundled. 
I concluded that the victim was being carried off for burial, 
where the earth was soft, for all this took place on a hard 
path. I put both together into a tin with some earth, and 
reached the laboratory about an hour later. When I 
opened the tin I found the snail nearly buried by a process 
of undermining. I half-filled a larger box with sand, into 
which I turned the two and watched the process in comfort. 
When the undermining was in progress the unfortunate 
snail ventured out, but the enemy doubtless feeling the 
strain, for the sucker pseudopod never let go, turned round 
and drove the victim well home. In about an hour’s time 
the two disappeared underground. Nothing has happened. 
since. I have, however, secured three or four more larvae, 
which I supplied with snails. They, however, didn’t bury 
them, but started their unpleasant work right away. I 
am in great hopes that I may get a few mature insects to 
send you. 
July 26, 1915—Now another note about my snail 
