1872.] 197 
in ascertaining that any eggs were laid, and it is not improbable that 
~ the ovipositing does not take place till the following spring or summer. 
The probable course of existence of Dendrophagus is, I think, this :— 
the eggs are Jaid in spring and early summer by hibernated females ; 
the larvee feed for twelve or fourteen months, becoming pupe the 
second summer after their exclusion from ie egg, and the beetles ap- 
pear about August. 
Dendrophagus seems to prefer a fallen tree to one still standing, 
though I have seen a specimen taken (by Mr. Hislop) off the horizon- 
tal part of a standing tree. The most productive tree I met with was 
a fallen one, whose trunk was prevented from coming in contact with 
the ground by the branches; this tree produced four specimens. The 
manner in which I succeeded in rearing the larvee was by keeping them 
along with pieces of bark in a jam-pot, with top ground and covered 
by a square of glass, the whole being placed in a dark cupboard. A 
good look out should be kept for mould, and care be taken not to in- 
troduce in the bark the larve of Quedius levigatus or other marauders. 
Description of the larva: Dr. Sharp having drawn up a description 
of the larva, and kindly placed it at my disposal, I give it,in prefer- 
ence to making another. 
“ Of a pale yellowish-white colour, elongate, depressed and parallel, 
with rather long antenne. These are of three joints, and are as long 
as the head and following segment ; the first joint is only about half 
the length of the second, but twice as stout; the third joint is very 
slender, and about as long as the second. 
“The lobe of the maxilla is fringed at the apex, and bears a three- 
jointed palpus, the third joint of which is more slender and shorter than 
the second, the basal joint is very short and obscure, and should perhaps 
be rather considered as the support of the palpus than as a true joint. 
“The labial palpi are short, stout, and two-jointed, the terminal 
joint about twice as long as the basal one. 
“The mandibles are very short and stout, the extremity is abruptly 
bent inwards, is slender, sharp, and three-toothed. 
“The six legs are rather long, and each is terminated by a single 
claw. 
“The segment next to the head is quadrate and transverse, of a 
different shape to the others. 
“The upper side of the twelfth segment bears two long, slender 
antenna-like processes, directed backwards; these processes are three- 
jointed, the last joint being long, slender, and almost like a hair. This 
segment has also each posterior angle produced at the side, behind, into 
a stout spine. 
