( lxxxiv ) 



to ascertain whether pupation occurred in the same manner 

 in nature, I again visited the hollow tree and succeeded in 

 finding the pupae still buried in several inches of the rotten 

 wood. 



" The first fly emerged on May 22, and they continued to 

 appear until June 22." 



Pteronus sertifer, Geoff., bred from Pine.— The Eev. 

 F. D. Morice exhibited specimens of Pteronus sertifer <J <J 

 and $ $, and read the following notes : — 



I exhibit a number of <J $ and $ $ which I have reared (some 

 in a glass breeding-cage, others in a closed large tin box) 

 from larvae sent to me by Mr. E. E. Green, which abounded 

 on pines at Camberley in June. The species is Pteronus 

 (= Lophyrus) sertifer, Geofir. (Fourcr.). The cocoons were 

 formed in July. Emergences of the imago began towards the 

 end of September, and have continued nearly daily ever since. 

 Last year I exhibited about 100 of the same species reared 

 similarly from larvae taken by Mr. Green and myself at the 

 same place and time of year. They were without a single 

 exception females ! But this year, though females still 

 largely preponderate, I have obtained no less than 26 specimens 

 of the other sex. 



Curiously enough (but this must have been a mere accident), 

 for the first week or so <$ <$ only appeared in the glass cage 

 and only $ $ in the tin box. But afterwards $ $ appeared 

 freely in both places, and at least one 3 in the tin. 



Owing to other engagements I have had very little oppor- 

 tunity to watch the behaviour of the imagines. They gener- 

 ally appear very lethargic and stupid insects, especially the 

 $ $. They will sit motionless for hours together on a pine 

 needle, but now and then in bright sunshine wake up and 

 move about in an aimless fashion on the needles, and some- 

 times climb up the sides of the cage, which generally ends in 

 their tumbling down and lying on their backs kicking helplessly. 

 Sometimes they simply lie so till they die. Oftener they right 

 themselves with difficulty, crawl back to the pine, and again 

 remain motionless on the needles. 



The colour of the $ $ seems to me probably cryptic. It 

 agrees very well with that of the reddish-brown pine stems, 



