ANOBIUM PANICEUM. 15 



punctured, a little wider than the elytra at the base, 

 rounded at the sides, somewhat compressed in front, 

 and slightly impressed on each side at the base. The 

 scutellum is small and nearly square. The elytra are 

 straight at the sides, rounded behind, and have ten 

 impressed rows of fine punctures on each ; there is also 

 a short and slightly oblique row of similar punctures on 

 either side of the scutellum, the interstices between the 

 rows of punctures are flat, and have indistinct transverse 

 scratches. In fresh and perfect specimens the pube- 

 scence is very close, and imparts a dusty appearance to 

 the surface ; there are also some longer hairs between 

 the rows of punctures on the elytra, but in old and worn 

 specimens the surface is frequently more or less denuded 

 of hairs, and has a much more polished appearance. 

 The length of the body is from 3 to 3 millm. 0. E. J. 



This destructive little beetle is closely allied to the 

 common English "Death Watch" (Anobium domesticuiri), 

 which is well known from the injury it occasions by its 

 borings in furniture and the wooden fittings of houses. 

 It is very common in Europe and many other parts of 

 the world, and has been found feeding on various sub- 

 stances, such as ginger, rhubarb, Cayenne pepper, 

 wafers, ship-biscuit, &c., and it is recorded that, in the 

 larva state, it has been known to perforate tinfoil. 



In the course of 1885 and 1886 I received various 

 communications from manufacturers and exporters in 

 England, and also from recipients of the goods at Port 

 Elizabeth, Cape. Colony, S. Africa, regarding injury 

 caused to exported boots by insect-workings. A pair of 

 children's boots, which were sent to me, as a sample of 

 the attack, irom an English manufacturer, were so 

 exceedingly injured by the small galleries run by maggots 

 in the parts where paste had been used (in making the 

 boots) to fasten the linings and leather together, that the 

 leather was partly perforated and was literally in rags 

 at the upper part, and the boots consequently were 

 totally useless. 



Figure 8 (page 14) shows the appearance of the 



