238 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



we were seldom disturbed by them at night. Without a doubt 

 the noise is made as a call to each other; and I proved this to 

 be the fact by tapping with my finger-nail on the back of my 

 watch, when I was almost certain to be immediately answered by 

 one of the beetles. I also constantly heard two of them tapping 

 to each other. In this manner I discovered the whereabouts, and 

 captured several of the insects. As to the method by which the 

 sound is produced I am able positively to set the point at rest, as 

 I have not only watched the beetles and seen them produce it, 

 but I have by tapping induced captured beetles to make the noise 

 in the presence of friends, who also witnessed the performance. 

 Upon my making the tapping the beetle would gather himself up, 

 and appear to be intently listening. As soon as I had finished he 

 would elevate himself on his legs, and quickly rap with his head 

 seven or eight times upon the wood or other substance upon 

 which he might be. The species I captured was Xestobium 

 tessellation. The sound, could be distinctly heard fourteen or 

 sixteen feet away from the insect. I kept specimens of the 

 beetles in pill-boxes for some time, and amused my friends 

 with sights of the performance. — E. F. Bisshopp; 32, Museum 

 Street, Ipswich, August 11, 188-4. 



Pterostichus melanarius a Fructivorous Insect. — An 

 intelligent gardener (Mr. Graves) of this town told me that his 

 strawberries were devoured by a beetle, and that he had caught 

 dozens, if not hundreds, of them by making little holes in the 

 ground to act as pitfalls. I offered to show him some beetles, to 

 see if he could recognise the species. After two or three bad 

 shots amongst the Rhyncophora and Stcrnoxi, I showed him a 

 box containing Pterostichi, &.c. He pointed out Pterostichus 

 melanarius, 111., as the culprit, and declared that he was his 

 "worst enemy" in the strawberry-bed. I disbelieved his story 

 and said they were probably his best friends, and eat vermin in 

 the strawberries. Next morning before breakfast he brought me 

 a box containing a Pterostichus melanarius, 111., and a strawberry 

 with a hole in it. I was still incredulous, but could find no signs 

 of insect-vermin inside the hole. I therefore cut off a sound 

 piece of the strawberry, and put that and Pterostichus into a 

 gallipot. During the day and evening I suddenly uncovered the 

 pot several times, and generally found the beetle at work with his 

 jaws, leaving decided traces on the surface of the strawberry. I 



