3376 The Zoologist — January, 1873. 



Sci. Pbilad. 1859, p. 87, as Anobium cornutum, and subsequently (Ibid, 

 Oct., 1865, p. 226) admitted into bis genus Ozoguatbus ; its present name 

 is therefore Ozognatbus cornutus, Lee. Tbe autbor observes that " tbis 

 interesting species was sent me by Mr. Andrew Murray, as having been 

 hatched in great numbers from some galls sent from California." Mr. 

 Riley informs me that the habits and transformations of the species have 

 never been published, that from the identical specimen he gave me he 

 obtained several specimens of the beetle before leaving for Europe in 1871, 

 and that from another specimen of the same gall he has bred others since, 

 and has notes and figures of the adolescent stages. Acting on Mr. Riley's 

 sucrrestion, I give here the few notes I wrote down while watching tbe 

 beetle and its companions of both sexes, which continued to appear almost 

 daily from the 20tb of May up to the 19th of June, 1872, when I counted 

 in all six males and fifteen females. Their ways are entirely those of a true 

 Anobium ; they gnaw their neat exit-hole in the same laborious fashion, 

 and often remain at its mouth for a while before quitting it for tbe first 

 time. If frightened in any way they sham death by drawing up their legs 

 and antennae ; left to themselves they readily take flight, both sexes being 

 provided with ample wings. The lively, cornute males may be seen rest- 

 lessly crawling over the gall, constantly investigating its woody polished 

 surface by means of their antennae, and ready to copulate with tbe females 

 directly the latter have made their appearance. On such occasions a 

 running match takes place between tbe contending males to get hold of tbe 

 new comer, and the most resolute male, that is to say the individual which 

 can stand perambulation the longest, effects its purpose. The relative 

 position of the sexes is precisely the same as with Anobium ; the male 

 while mounted, strokes the sides of the elytra and the underlying lateral parts 

 of tbe abdominal segments of the female with its quivering antennae. The 

 female carries her partner about while copulation lasts, and even takes wing 

 successfully with her burden. By isolating some couples from their restless 

 companions, I have ascertained that this act lasts seldom longer than an 

 hour ; in some instances I have seen the males quit their hold after less than 

 half-an-hour. Tbe impregnated females re-enter tbe gall for the evident 

 purpose of oviposition, but I> have not been able to make as yet sure of the 

 latter point. I have observed females make their way rapidly towards the 

 nearest aperture while still carrying their partners, the males being 

 ruthlessly and forcibly deprived of their conjugal rights at the entrance of 

 the burrows, the females dragging themselves into the openings in spite of 

 the counter-efforts of the males, which had no choice but to drop off. I 

 have not seen the males enter the burrows again after their first exit from 

 them, but the females I have noticed to go in and reappear again, though 

 not always through the same tunnel, but I recognized the individuals in 

 question by minute white paint marks, which I had previously applied to 



