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; TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 129 
Notice of a number of Earth-worms and Larva of an undeseribed Species 
found in draining a field upon his Estate. By Henry Peckirt. 
These worms were exhibited with a view to ascertain whether they were really 
foreign worms, or the common worms rendered energetic from some particular state 
of the soil. The working of the worm was first noticed about sixty years since on 
the site of a stick or rubbish heap at the Old Hall of Thirkleby Park; it has now 
spread over the gardens and park, and covers a surface of 200 acres. The casts are 
so large and numerous as to render the eatage impracticable within 4 inches of the 
ground. The workings are seen again at Baldersby Park, a distance of 8 miles, 
the Swale intervening. About five years since a small beginning was discovered in 
a field 3 miles from Thirkleby, which has now spread to an acre. The worms are 
subsoiling the land, and the land is enriching from the great quantity of grass 
yearly (wasted to the occupier) trodden down uneaten. From the site on which 
they first appeared, it has been suggested that it may have been an imported worm 
thrown from some garden pot. 
It was also supposed that the destruction of the rooks at one time at the park 
allowed the worms to get a-head, but it is doubtful whether rooks take a worm 
when other food is to be had. The field has a Rookery at the end of it. In collect- 
ing worms for the Meeting, it was noticed that the rooks had torn up the grass in 
various parts of the field, and on examination it was found they were after the larve, 
which were exhibited. This field was drained two years since 4 feet 6 inches deep as 
a check upon the worm, but no effect is yet observable. 
Notes on Myrmecophilous Coleoptera. By Dr. J. A. PowER. 
I imagine that the interest of the entomologists of the Association may possibly 
be excited by a tolerably complete collection of the known British Myrmecophilous 
insects. It is a group which until recently has been almost unknown to our natu- 
ralists, and embraces a considerable number of creatures which had hitherto escaped 
their researches. Most of these singular animals appear to spend their lives, some- 
times in the immediate vicinity of the ants’ nests, sometimes in the very heart of 
them ; and although endowed with ample powers of flight, wander but little from 
their quarters. Hence it has happened, that only a casual specimen has now and 
then fallen to the lot of the collector, whilst the greater part have been unknown, or 
known only as unique, or nearly unique examples, and even their authenticity sus- 
pected. Messrs. Janson and Waterhouse acting as pioneers, Messrs. Reading, Ed- 
win Sheppard, Douglas, myself, and sundry others, have, within the last few years, 
by carrying on the war in and about the nests themselves, brought to light many new 
species, or found others to be abundant which were previously almost unknown. 
Mr. Janson has, in the ‘ Entomologist’s Annual’ of last year, published a most 
valuable account of the habits of these insects, and the mode of searching for them. 
I must say, however, that I cannot sympathize with him in his tender feelings to- 
wards these voracious hosts of our coleopterous favourites. According to my own 
experience, the spring, 7. e. about April and May, is the most productive season for 
examining the nests of Formica rufa (which affords much the greatest number of in- 
sects), before the ants have actively begun their labours: the Coleoptera then seem 
to be accumulated in their immediate neighbourhood, instead of being scattered over 
a large extent of ground as they subsequently are. Soon after this period we often 
see the ants commence the process of gradually deserting an old and inconvenient 
nest, and taking up new quarters close by. I have found these old nests afford by 
far the best harvest of insects, which in the appetite for formic acid or its odour, 
(apparently necessary to their constitution), congregate amongst the few remaining 
ants. If a few showers of rain should then fall and wash away the acid, the beetles 
entirely desert the nest. The most efficient plan of search with this nest, is to place 
a few handfulls of the material taken from near the ants, upon a somewhat fine cab- 
bage-net, laid on a sheet of brown paper. Saprini, Dendrophili, &c. have a tendency, 
when disturbed, to make their way downwards, and if, after a short time, you lift 
the net to another part of the paper, you remove the débris, and leave the insects 
eae The outskirts of the nests should also be well examined, as Mr. Janson 
58. 9 
