262 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



beneath the card is the number 155. (Figs. 6 & 7.) As 

 Bignell's collections and MSS. are now in the Municipal Museum, 

 Plymouth, I wrote to the Curator, who very kindly supplied me 

 with a copy of the following note which Bignell had placed 

 against the number 155 in his diary: " M. collaris, bred from 

 Noctua triangulnm, July 19th, 1881 (80), from G. F. Mathew." 

 No doubt these are the insects recorded by Bignell as M. collaris 

 in his list of the BraconidaB of S. Devon,* and by Fitch (Entom. 

 xvi. p. 69). 



It seems probable that Bignell, suspecting his specimens to be 

 distinct from M. collaris, sent them to Fitch for advice, and that 

 for some reason or other they were never returned. 



In June, 1908, the larva of an Agrotid was brought to me, 

 which immediately burrowed on being placed in a tin box with 

 an inch or two of earth ; this depth of soil was evidently in- 

 sufficient, for a day or two afterwards I found that the cater- 

 pillar had come to the surface again, where it was lying in an 

 apparently comatose state, and a large number of parasite 

 larvas were feeding upon it. These parasites were arranged in 

 two irregular rows, one on either side of the unfortunate cater- 

 pillar. The host had already shrunk in size, and three days 

 later had entirely disappeared, with the exception of the skin and 

 the chitinous parts of the head. By this time the parasite larvse, 

 to the number of seventy or eighty, had more than doubled in 

 size and commenced spinning an ochreous web round them- 

 selves, but being in an unnatural position were not successful in 

 forming the usual ball. Probably owing to this many died, 

 but a few succeeded in making their cocoons, and duly emerged. 

 Unfortunately I have not these few specimens before me now, 

 but I have little hesitation in referring them to this species. 



I may mention that during the past few years I have reared 

 a very considerable number of the larvae of Noctua triangulnm, 

 but have not obtained this parasite. 



The types are now in the collection of Mr. B. S. Harwood, 

 of Colchester. 



(To be continued.) 



NOTES ON PODAGRION PACFIVMERUM, A CHALCID 

 PARASITE OF MANTIS EGGS. 



By C. B. Williams, B.A., F.E.S. 



On May 17th, 1913, an ootheca of Mantis religiosa was 

 kindly sent to me by Mr. Hugh Main from Lugano, Italy. 

 Towards the end of May and the beginning of June a number 



■■' Trans. Dev. Ass. for Adv. Science, 1901, xxxiii. pp. 657-692. 



