io8 LETTERS TO MR. SERVICE. [CHAP. xm. 



dipterous identifications. You would not mind about this 

 part, as doubtless if you have not yourself identified, Mr. 

 Percy H. Grimshaw, Museum of Science and Art, Edinburgh, 

 would see to it (pp. 149, 185). 



Do you ever come across the so-called " Turnip Mud- 

 beetle," Helophorus rugosus, in your country ? I had the 

 beetle some years ago, as doing harm to turnip leafage, but 

 we could not find the larva. Lately we found a larva doing 

 a deal of mischief in the same neighbourhood by burrowing 

 galleries in the top of turnips, and it struck me we might 

 have what we wanted to complete the history. So I sent 

 it to Canon Fowler, and he identified as beyond doubt 

 Helophorus and being found where H. r. resorts, it is hardly 

 open to doubt that we have got parent and child. Please 

 excuse a short letter, for I am working as hard as I can 

 manage. 



Yours very truly, 



ELEANOR A. ORMEROD. 



[The parasitic and other enemies of the " hill-grub " are 

 so effective in their attacks that in the year following a 

 great increase in numbers a normal level of occurrence is 

 invariably restored.] 



