334 THE NATURAL HISTORY 



way through, so as to rub off its parasites by main 

 force and, before those that have escaped being crushed 

 in the process have had time to recover from their 

 surprise at the rough treatment, it hurriedly takes 

 to it wings and leaves them behind ! Further on, we 

 shall have to record the still more remarkable pro- 

 ceeding of another insect that is subject to the attack 

 of the same species of mite. 



Trox sabulosus we have taken on West Heath near 

 the line of Railway, and among the destructive chafer 

 family we have met with numerous specimens of 

 Serica brunnea ; Rhysotragus Solstitialis (the Mid- 

 summer Chafer) ; Melolontha vulgaris (the Common 

 Cock Chafer) ; Phyllopertha horticola and Hoplia 

 argentea. The beautiful Golden-green Rose Chafer 

 (Cetonia aurata) we have found less frequently. In 

 the catalogue of insects that, as Larvae occasionally 

 injure our herbage by devouring the roots, and in the 

 perfect state now and then make a clean sweep of the 

 foliage over large tracts of our woodlands, we scarcely 

 need say that Melolontha vulgaris, Phyllopertha horti- 

 cola, and Hoplia argentea, are very notorious. In Kirby 

 and Spence, some astounding passages in the history 

 of Melolontha vulgaris are given, which far surpass 

 anything of the kind that has ever come under our 

 own notice. Of the depredations of Phyllopertha 

 horticola however, we can speak from actual obser- 

 vation. From a letter written in 1858, we extract the 

 following notice of this insect : " When I began my 

 letter it was my intention to say something of the 

 rooks, in continuation of my strictures on their con- 

 duct last year ; but if I state in passing that, here and 

 elsewhere in the adjoining parishes, they are charge- 

 able with the serious offence of materially influencing 

 the marketable value of mushrooms, I must in common 

 fairness admit that they are well entitled to a goodly 

 share of this comestible, in consideration of the great 

 good of which they are the instruments this very 



