174 
ORNITHOLOGIST 
[Vol. 11-No. 11 




Keep, if possible, all the larvee you find; if you 
succeed in raising them you can easily determine 
the species. Be sure and keep all pup. 
A note book should be kept, and if convenient 
figure all the larvee and note down all changes, 
food habits and characteristics of your specimens. 
The following table, though very incomplete, 
may be of interest to those who may wish to col- 
lect our Coleopterous larvee. 
For convenience I have classed the families ac- 
cording to their food habits, and at best such a 
brief list will be imperfect, as different genera in 
a family may have very different habits. The 
Scarabaide will furnish a good example. 
In this list I first have the larve that live 
wholly in the ground, and these are divided into 
carnivorous and vegetable feeders. Next comes 
the water larvee, then the scavengers; the plant 
larvee, which include all that are found on plants, 
the foliage of trees, in fungus, etc.; then the wood 
larvee, which include those that bore in fruit and 
forest trees, under bark, in decaying logs and 
stumps; then the seed larvee, such as the Wevils, 
Gall-making larve, etc.; last of all the parasitic 
larvee, or those that infest bees’ nests, our muse- 
um collections, carpets and woolens, ete. 
Ground Larvee, (Carnivorous).—Cicindelide, 
(Tiger Beetles), Carabidw, Nitidueidw, Colydilde,- 
Staphylinide, Lampyride. - 
Ground Larve (Vegetable Feeders).—<Scara- 
beide, except the genera noted under “Scavenger 
larvee,” Hlateride, (wire worms). 
Water Larvee.—Dytiscide, Gyrinide, Hydro- 
philide, Parnide, Dascyllide. 
Scavenger Larvee.—Scarabwide—The following 
genera are found in decaying matter, etc.: Copris, 
Onthophagus, Phanarus, Geotrupes, Aphodius, 
Trox, Silphike, Histeride. 
Plant Larvee.—Coccinellide, Mordelide, Trich- 
opterygide, Krotylidw (fungus), Trogositide, Chry- 
somelide. ; 
Wood Larvee.—Rhyssodide, Cucujide (also in 
grain), Lucanide, Ptinidw, Sculytidw, Buprestidae, 
Rhipiceride, Cerambycide, Pyrochroida. 
Seed Larvie.—Bruchide (Bean and Pea Wevils, 
ete.), Curculionidae. 
Parasitic Larvee.—Dermestida, 
bees), Melwidw, Stylopide. 
Cleride (On 

Conversation Between Beetles. 
BY WALTER HONXIE, 

I was watching some Dung Beetles the other 
day, on the Hunting Island. Several of them 
were rolling their pellets along, when one fell 
>> 
with his load into a deer track. After several un- 
availing efforts he stood at the edge and apparent- 
ly did a little thinking. This was the position of 
affairs: The pellet lay near the toe of the track, 
which was deeper than the heel, but the deer, as 
is frequently the case, had dragged his toe in 
walking and made a light furrow. 
The beetle started nimbly off and joined one of 
the others whom he assisted in rolling his burden 
for a foot or more, until they were close to the 
scene of the accident. Both now left their charge 
and stood by the edge of the track, where a regu- 
lar consultation plainly took place. Each in turn 
went below and the pellet was moved to either 
end of the track, but could not be lifted out. 
While both were below engaged at this futile 
task, another one came along and apparently said 
something, for at once all three began deepening 
the little furrow where the deer had dragged his 
toe. The new comer pushed the loose earth 
down to the two below, who worked it backward. 
When a regular incline had been formed, he 
ceased his work and stood one side, while the 
other two extricated their precious charge with- 
out any further mishap. I fancied, too, that 
when it was in safety, its owner made a sort of 
“thank you, sir,’ movement towards his two 
friends. 

A-Hardy Butterfly. 

BY PAUL REVERE. 

One of the most pleasing entomological studies 
for an amateur is the rearing of the Archippus 
Butterfly (Danais archippus of Fabricus). found 
upon milk weed from the middle of July to au- 
tumn. The fly is represented by a handsomely 
banded caterpillar, with two thread-like horns at 
either end ofits body. Its chrysalis is light green, 
decorated with black lines and spots of gold, and 
suspended, resembles a pretty ear-drop. It is 
translucent, and each day the changes of the oc- 
cupant may be noted, until the red and black 
markings of the wings become visible through 
the membrane which encloses it. Its egress is 
prompt and its preparation for flight rapid, the 
time occupied in leaving the chrysalis and de- 
veloping its wings, is from thirty minutes to an 
hour, while a moth of equal size would hardly be 
ready for flight in twelve hours. 
In July, I collected a dozen, and after they had 
reached the chrysalis state, I made a wire screen 
cover to a box, suspended them from it and 
placed them in the refrigerator, They were all 
put in the refrigerator between the 20th and 31st 
of the month. My intention was to hold them in 
check and take them through the winter to be 
