1918.] 15' 



the debris behind and beneath it, was collected into a bag and taken home for 

 examination. The contents of the bag were shaken through a sieve, and large 

 numbers of Cryptophcic/i, small beetle larvae (of the same ?), and a few speci- 

 mens of Coninomus nodifer were found to be present. The remains of the nest 

 with the larvae have been placed in a large glass-bowl for rearing-purposes. 

 The Cryptophagi collected (some 80 in number) all belong to one species, with 

 the exception of six C scaniciis L., and one of its var. patruelis Stra, After 

 carefully studying the more abundant species I came to the conclusion they 

 were C. hvendali Ganglbauer. It will be remembered that Mr. Champion, 

 who introduced this species to the British list (Ent. Mo. Mag. xliv, 1908, 

 p. 123), captured two specimens in July 1907, among a number of Cryptophagi 

 taken in a hollow in a beech-tree in the New Forest. Having asked him to 

 compare a number of my specimens with the New Forest ones, he has kindly 

 done so, and he says he considers them to be l^vendali. My specimens vary 

 much in size, ranging from l*8-2o mm. in length, and in colour with nearly 

 black elytra and dark red head and thorax, to ail dark, or lighter, red. 

 Ganglbauer considered C. l(pvendalt to be a variety of C. j^uhesceiis Stm., but 

 I agree with Champion and Deville (/, c.) that it must be treated as specifically 

 distinct. From C. pubesce7is it may be known by the three-jointed club to the 

 antennae, the thorax mo^e rounded at the base, and the darker colour. C. pubes- 

 cens is generally found in wasps' nests — I used to take it freely in such situations 

 at Chiddingfold (Ent. Rec. x, 1898, p. 307) — but this is no reason why it should 

 be considered to be the typical form of /(pvendali. From C. scaiiicus it may be 

 known by its duller surface, coarser puncturation, thorax much less sharply 

 narrowed at the base, somewhat narrower 9th antennal joint, and shorter 

 antennae and legs. Out of all my specimens not more than twelve are quite 

 perfect : most have lost one leg, or one antenna, or parts of them, and others 

 are much more mutilated. Butler (Ent, Mo. Mag. xxxii, 1896, p. 89) referred 

 to similar numbers of C. pubescens, sent to him by Tuck from wasps' nests» 

 being mutilated, but he expressed the opinion that the injuries were not caused 

 by the wasps. Morley (Ent. Mo. Mag. xxxv, 1899, p. 256) wrote a note on 

 the same point, having found that a number of C. lycoperdi Hbst., carefully 

 collected from a " pufF-ball," were similarly mutilated. All my specimens 

 when captured were at once put into laurel, being picked up by means of a fine 

 damp paint-brush. I am of opinion that the beetles unintentionally bite off 

 bits of their fellows' legs and antennae when feeding close together, — H. St J. 

 DoNiSTHORPE, 19 Hazlewell lload, Putney Hill, Loudon, S.W. 15 : Dec. Vlth, 

 1917. 



Further notes on the larva of Byrrhus pilula i, — In view of Mr. Champions 

 article on the larva of this species in the last number of the Entomologist's 

 Monthly Magazine, the follo-\\ing notes may be of interest. In January, 1914, 

 I found several exam])les of the larva of Byrrhus pilula \i. under mossy turf 

 at Loosley Kow, near Princes Risborough, Bucks. They were identified from 

 Westwood's figure, and, in addition, two specimens of the perfect insect 

 occurred with them. The larvse were always to be seen under turf near the 

 top of a small bank, and when taken appeared to be hibernating, for each was 

 inert and found in a small round earthen cell. They soon became active, 

 however, and were several times observed to be gnawing grass roots. From 

 the size of the specimens I should say that they were half-grown. Au attempt 



