170 Mr. F. G. Smith on the Habits of 



has not been at all hastened by these larvse, for they have 

 left behind them no communications that would facilitate 

 the entrance and growth of mildew. 



There are no punctures in the bark, and when this is 

 removed there are generally no traces of borings on the 

 inside of the bark, nor on the surface of the wood. The 

 small borings through which the larvae entered the wood 

 itself are filled up and become almost imperceptible. 



Owing to this absence of orifices, even though a stump 

 may contain a great number of larvae in this stage, one 

 not acquainted with their habits would be most likely to 

 overlook them. 



But having made its communication with the exterior 

 the larva's efforts have an additional object, for from hence- 

 forth they are partly directed towards making suitable 

 provision for itself during its later stages. It for a time 

 continues to bore downwards but with a more inward 

 direction, and instead of compressing the refuse behind 

 it as it previously did, it forces it through the orifice 

 alluded to. 



After pursuing this method for some time it concludes 

 its downward course and enlarges the end of the burrow 

 so as to form a sort of turning-space. This may be 

 anything between eight to fifteen inches below the flat 

 surface of the stum}). The larva now changes its direction 

 and strikes upwards, with a burrow which has a calibre 

 somewhat more corresponding with the shape of its body, 

 and also straighter than its downward burrow. 



An upward burrow may at once be distinguished from a 

 downward one by the fact that the latter is almost imper- 

 ceptible on account of its being tightly filled with refuse, 

 while the former is visible as it is free from debris. 



When the larva has brought its gallery very close to the 

 outside of the wood, it discontinues the gallery and pushes 

 into the dome-shaped termination thereof a number of 

 long wood-fibres, which it tightly compresses together. If 

 this be not done to keep out the rain, I cannot suggest 

 any other purpose. 



In this completed and unobstructed upward-burrow, the 

 larva lives for a considerable time, for I have found com- 

 pleted burrows in October, while the insect does not 

 pupate till the following spring. 



During this period it gradually ceases its activity and 

 becomes whiter in colour. It pupates in May, remaining 



