100 Tfefe feNTOMoLOGiSf. 



Entomology of the Portsmouth District. — I am desirous of making 

 a complete catalogue of the entomology of the Portsmouth district, and 

 would be glad if entomologists who have collected in this district will let 

 me have lists of their captures in all orders. Lists will be returned, if 

 desired.— W. T. Pearce ; 101, May field Road, Seafield, Gosport. 



Another Nauseous Insect eaten by a Woodpecker. — On the 28th 

 of January last, I received from Mr. W. Perry, of Broxton Old Hall, Cheshire, 

 a female specimen of the great spotted woodpecker {Plcus major, L.), which 

 had been shot in that neighbourhood. On examining the stomach of this 

 bird, I was very agreeably surprised to find that it contained at least four 

 specimens of a Coccinella, undoubtedly the very common Hippodamia 

 variegata, Goez. (= mutabilis, Schrib,). In addition to these there were a 

 number of the larvae, and two imagines, oi Rhagium hifasciatum ;■'• the 

 former almost filled the stomach, and several of them were almost digested, 

 their heads only remaining, which proves, beyond all doubt, that they were 

 eaten sometime before the Coccinella, as the latter were quite fresh at the 

 time of my examination. This, I think, should prove of some interest to 

 those who are at all interested in the " uses of colours in animals," or in 

 the Darwinian theory. In his very interesting little book (' Colours of 

 Animals,' p. 180), Mr. E. B. Poulton says : — " That ladybirds are eaten by 

 green tree-frogs in winter, when other insect-food is scarce ; and also by 

 hungry birds, although intensely disliked, and are refused (at any rate, by 

 the frogs) if other food can be obtained." Mr. Poulton kindly informed me 

 that these facts are based entirely upon experiments with captive animals ; 

 hitherto, nothing in a state of nature has been known to feed upon the 

 Coccinellidse. At first sight my observations appear to verify Mr. Poulton's 

 statements, but the woodpecker could not have been in a state of hunger 

 when it ate the nauseous insects, for reasons previously stated. We must 

 also bear in mind that the woodpeckers are less affected by severe weather 

 than any other bird, as the greater part of their food is obtained from timber, 

 which is always available. I am, therefore, of opinion that this species of 

 woodpeckers, and probably other members of the genus, like the cuckoo 

 [ante, pp. 19, 77], will feed upon nauseous insects at any time of the year; 

 this, however, can only be proved by the examination of birds during 

 months when plenty of edible food is available. I hope that my very brief 

 remarks may incite others, who have the opportunity to examine the 

 stomachs of insectivorous birds, to do so whenever opportunity ofifers ; 

 curators of museums, abroad as well as in this country, could help very 

 materially by preserving the stomachs for any specialist who might care to 

 examine them. Degraded as this branch of Entomology may appear to 

 many, it is, nevertheless, of very great interest. I should be very glad to 

 hear the opinions of others who are interested in this subject. — R.Newstead; 

 Grosvenor Museum, Chester, March 14, 1891. 



Late Emergence of Pcecilocampa populi. — During the week ending 

 January 24th a female specimen of Pcecilocampa populi emerged in breed- 

 ing-cage kept out of doors. Doubtless the extreme cold for some time 

 previous retarded its emergence. I have obtained many ova from this wn- 

 impregnated specimen, the greater portion dark in colour, with all the 

 appearance of fertile ova, the remainder being a light red-brown. — T. B. 

 Jefferys : Bath, February 3, 1891. 



* The larvffi of this coleopteron seem to be their favourite food, as I have 

 found them in other examples that I have examined. — E. N. 



