APPENDIX. 4G7 



buried in the cracks of the wood. This clearly proves that the eggs 

 arc laid in autumn. 



t That a cavity in dead or rotten wood is the natural place of oviposi- 

 tion is not proved, but is rendered in the highest degree probable, when 

 it is remembered that no other arrangement that I previously tried had 

 any success in inducing oviposition. It becomes further, therefore, 

 probable that the mite-like young larvse are met with by the wasps in 

 collecting the wood shavings for nest building, probably usually one af a 

 time, and a nest contains a succession of paradoxus, because the same 

 post or stick over which the beetle larvae are wandering, is constantly 

 frequented by the wasps of that nest, whilst those of other nests, free 

 from Rhipiphorus, do not happen to have visited such a post. Though my 

 observations will well bear refutation or confirmation, there remains really 

 only one matter still unknown, and that is ; When do the eggs hatch ? 

 From the delicate nature of the eggs I incline to believe that the young larva 

 is developed in the autumn, but hibernates unhatched within the egg- 

 shell. Those eggs that I found laid in the wood cavities were either 

 infertile or injured by my examination, or they went mouldy instead of 

 developing. Whether any I did not disturb may have been more lucky 

 will not appear till next spring, but T much doubt it. 



" The eggs are spindle-shaped, 0.47 mm. long and 0.2 mm. in diameter, 

 of a pure milk-white, and are laid somewhat irregularly, but with a 

 tendency to be packed closely side by side. Mr. Fowler appears to 

 entertain the idea that the egg is laid in the wasp cell ; this may justify 

 my stating two reasons why this would be extremely improbable, even 

 if I had not otherwise rendered it practically certain that the actual 

 habit is very different. First, a personal reason ; I have met with 

 hundreds of Rhipiphorus in all stages, only once as a free larva, but 

 abundantly within the wasp larva, and at all stages forward to the per- 

 fect beetle, but have never seen any indication of an egg within the cell. 

 Secondly, the wasp develops with extreme rapidity, yet the Ekipiphoriu 

 keeps up with it, or, indeed, overtakes it ; there would thus be really 

 no time for the development of the young larva within the egg, even 

 were it as rapid as is at times the case in Chrysis. The nature of the 

 ovipositor, egg, and young larva, nevertheless, plainly indicates that 

 the larva must take some time to mature in the egg, and that the species 

 is not viviparous." 



The characters given for the family AntJticidce on pages 3 and 83 of 

 Vol. V. apply to the British species only: in Mecyno1ar$-us, Laf., the 

 penultimate joints of the tarsi are not bilobed, and the eyes are larger 

 in proportion than in Notows and Anthicus. I am indebted to Mr. 

 Champion for kindly sending me a specimen of M. serricornis, Panz. 

 (rhinoceros, F.) taken by Mr. J. J. Walker at Besika Bay : it is about 

 li mm. in length and resembles a minute Notoxus. 



H h 2 



