238 Mr. Pilciier's Bmnarlcs on species of the 



M. Tliozet's letter was replied to by Mr. Miskiu, of Brisbane, 

 a well-known entomologist, who utterly repudiated the idea of 

 0. fuUonia puncturing the oranges, and said, " 0. fuUonia is 

 really only following the well-known habits of its tribe — that of 

 extracting the juice of fruit, which has already been penetrated 

 by the action of other agents, the interior parts being thus exposed 

 to the operations of the moth fraternity, which otherwise, Avould 

 not be attracted by the fruit." This statement of Mr. INIiskin's 

 is in entire accordance with my own observations. Not only do 

 the Ophideridce attack the oranges, but also the ripe guava, 

 peach, and especially the banana ; so much so, that Queensland 

 Lepidopterists take advantage of their well-known tastes to effect 

 their capture. The modus operandi is to hang up fully ripe 

 bananas, with incisions made in the skin, to Avhich the different 

 species of Opliideres (as well as other moths), resort in numbers. 

 Such is the preference of Ophideres for the banana, that Mr. 

 Miskin tells me that he has hung up oranges, cut in halves, in 

 close proximity to the bananas, and that the former have not 

 attracted a single specimen, and that those bananas Avhich are 

 ripest, almost fermenting, di-aw most insects. 



M. Kiinckel describes the proboscis as " a verital)le auger," a 

 perfect model of design as a perforating instrument ; whilst, Mr. 

 Darwin says " that the insect must employ a thrusting motion, 

 and not any kind of revolving movement, and the proboscis must 

 accordingly be considered as a saw;" so that these two observers 

 do not agree at all as to the mode in Avhich the proboscis is 

 used. 



Mr. Darwin's theory of a " thrusting motion" seems to me the 

 only motion which is possible, but I cannot myself imagine a 

 more unfitting tool than a saAV to perform the operation of making 

 a hole. Would any carpenter attempt to jnerce a j)lank, even 

 Avith the finest key-hole saw, Avithout first boring a hole right 

 thi'ough the Avood Avith a gimlet ? 



