RAPHIGASTRID.E. 103 



Abdomen above black ; on the middle of the 4th segment 2 slight' 

 longitudinal keels, divided and bounded by a furrow ; on the 5th and 

 6th segments a stronger keel ; Connexivwn yellow, 6th segment red, 

 the fore and hinder edges of each segment black ; the posterior 

 outer angle of the 6th segment in the $ is obtuse, in the ? acute. 

 Genital segments : in the $ the 2nd is black and obtusely ointed ; 

 in the the 3rd is red (as also is the 3rd abdominal segment), the 

 posterior margin deeply but widely notched. Underside deep 

 ochreous or reddish ; the spine reaching to the 2nd pair of coxae ; 

 Stigmata black. 



Length, 3^ 4j lines. 



Common on birches, in May and September. 



De Geer, in his 'Memoires' (1. c.), gives a very interesting 

 account of the affectionate care bestowed by a female of this species 

 upon a numerous brood of young ones, exactly after the manner of 

 a hen with her chickens ; adding that Modeer had observed it was 

 principally against the attacks of the male that the mother defended 

 her young. Succeeding authors have quoted De Geer without, appa- 

 rently, having seen the fact stated. But Mr. E. Parfitt, of Exeter, 

 has sent us a female of this species, with several young ones gummed 

 on to the same card, and the following account of them : 



" When I first saw the mother sitting in bright sunshine in the 

 midst of her progeny on a birch leaf, I was much struck with the 

 happy appearance of the family ; it reminded me at once of the 

 affection I had seen evinced by female Forficulce for their young. 

 The mother would occasionally get up and look around her, appa- 

 rently to see if any enemy were approaching, and if all was quiet 

 she would sit down again. When disturbed by anything, for in- 

 stance, by a bit of stick, with which I touched a young one, the mother 

 directly came to its rescue, putting her antennae down to the little 

 thing and drawing them over it. If that did not do, she would 

 walk round it and endeavour to protect it. I repeated the experi- 

 ment with some of the other young ones, to see if it was really 

 affection I had witnessed, and she repeated very nearly the same 

 conduct, now and then placing a leg over it. Altogether the little 

 creature showed great excitement, and by running round them ap- 

 peared exceedingly anxious about her little charges ; indeed, I never 

 before saw such affection exhibited by any insect. And I must add 

 that I certainly felt a pang at taking the lives of these creatures, 



