The Ecology of a Sheltered Clay Bank 213 
probably have no effect upon the inter-relations of life 
except as they might fall prey to some of the spiders or 
vertebrates. 
Photinus pyralis Linn. [E. A. Schwarz]. Many of 
these ‘‘lightning-bugs’’ spent their days near the clay 
bank about the first of August. Since they are nocturnal 
insects and are in a sleepy condition during the day, they 
should have been easy prey ‘to alert prospectors. No 
actual observations were made, however, on the effect 
of their presence upon the others. 
Hypera (Phytonomus) punctata Fabr. [E. A. 
Schwarz]. Two specimens were taken at two distinct 
places on the clay bank on July 30, 1917. There may 
have been more, but their coloration is such as to make 
them almost indistinguishable from their surroundings. 
They evidently fell prey to the ant-lion and other car- 
nivorous creatures. 
Rhadopterus picipes Oliv. [E. A. Schwarz]. One speci- 
men of this beetle was taken July 30 from the jaws of 
an ant-lion. 
Coleopterous larvae. Some which could not be identi- 
fied were often taken from the ant-lion pits. These had 
evidently fallen from the vegetation above, and were 
a considerable factor in maintaining so large a number 
of thriving ant-lions. 
Epicauta marginata Fab. [E. A. Schwarz}. About 
August 20, several of these blister-beetles were found 
dead on the bank. On September 4 and 6 there were 
again large lots of these beetles, all dead. I cannot ex- 
Plain the phenomenon, unless it be that some creature 
had captured them and then spat them out, dead, be- 
cause of their bad taste. : 
Hyperodes humilis Gyll. [E. A. Schwarz]. One speci- 
