260 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



of the food-plant, Eupatorium. Mr. Bignell also at the same 

 time favoured me with a copy of his note to this Journal, in 

 which he records his observations of the habits of the larva 

 of this plume-moth. In my description of L. microdactyly 

 (Entom. xv. p. 103) I stated that the larva fed on the flowers of 

 hemp agrimony. Now, however, after having had an opportunity 

 of seeing larvse in the fresh green stems, before they had formed 

 their cocoons in which to pass the winter and ultimately pupate, 

 I can quite agree with Mr. Bignell that they do feed in the stems. 

 But I cannot form so positive an opinion as to whether they do 

 so or not from the moment of leaving the egg. In only one 

 instance could I find anything that looked like a point of entry; 

 this was situated on the opposite side, and a little above a larger 

 hole just below a joint. By carefully paring the stem, I found a 

 dark streak running from the small hole to the cell in com- 

 munication with the larger hole below the joint. The larger 

 holes in the stems are evidently so constructed that they shall 

 afford egress to the perfect insects, but they may have served for 

 the larva's ingress also. I hope Mr. Bignell will give this larva 

 his further attention, and, if possible, investigate its earlier 

 history. — Richard South ; September 1, 1884. 



Carnivorous Beetles vegetable feeders. — A propos of 

 Mr. Horner's remarks on Pterostichus melanarius (Entom. xvii. 

 p. 238), I think few carnivorous beetles will refuse to eat fruit, 

 fleshy roots, or tubers occasionally. I have seen three specimens 

 of Carabus violaceus disputing possession of a half-rotten apple, 

 and turning savagely with open jaws on to my fingers when I 

 attempted to dispossess them of the " bone of contention." My 

 cellar communicates with the open air by means of a flight of 

 steps, covered by folding-doors, which latter are greatly affected 

 by changes of weather. Not only insects, but frogs, toads, and 

 other Reptilia find their way into the cellar. Of beetles, three 

 Carabi, some half dozen Pterostichi, sundry species of Ancho- 

 menus, Amara, Bembidium, Harpalus, and numerous Brachelytra 

 have been taken there from time to time ; and, although they have 

 not been clearly detected, there is prima facie evidence to connect 

 them with the holes eaten in potatoes, turnips, and the like, 

 which for convenience have been placed in the cellar. I am 

 glad to say we are not troubled with Blatta, or that might 

 have to bear some part of the charge. Under the circumstances 



