Insects. 2759 



swarms, the second one six days previous to my swann rising, which would mate- 

 rially diminish the number of working bees in the stock for some time. Indeed this 

 statement clearly shows that the gain was very trifling for some days after, although 

 the weather was fair : it also proves that when the season is genial for breeding, and 

 productive in honey, a hive, after sending out two swarms, although not very early, 

 can get a sufficiency of store to make an excellent stock for the next year. Doubtless 

 much depends on the locality where bees are kept, and very much on the seasons. — 

 John Green; Melbourne, Derbyshire, March 5, 1850. 



Notes on the Stylopidce. — It is worthy of remark that every one of the specimens 

 that I have seen labelled " Stylops Dalii," — excepting my own and those I gave to 

 the British Museum and Mr. Curtis, — are not that species. It is perhaps difficult to 

 distinguish the different species of Stylops properly, but S. Dalii is quite clear at the 

 base of the wings: moreover, there is a difference in the outline of the wings. 

 S. Dalii is only bred from Andrena labialis ; whereas the others I have seen have the 

 base of the wings dark, and were bred from Andrena convexiuscula. I suspect the 

 same species does not infest different species of bees. I incline to think that the 

 specimens of Halictophagus which I have taken belong to different species : the Port- 

 land specimen, which was unluckily nearly deprived of its antennae in getting it into 

 the quill, has the nervules or wing-bones much darker and stouter than the others ; 

 besides the dates of the capture are very different. I had a fourth in my net, not far 

 from this place, but lost it owing to the wind, which turned the net inside out just at 

 the time I had nearly got it into the quill : this specimen appeared to be smaller than 

 either of the others. T have more than once found Halicti infested with Stylopidae, 

 and this circumstance induced me to give the name of Halictophagus to the genus. 

 — J. C. Dale; Glanville , s Wootton, January 8, 1850. 



On setting different species of Earwigs. — Sometimes when rough methods fail, 

 gentler means succeed : this I found to be the case in setting the wings of Labia 

 minor. I first gum the body on a card, setting out the legs and antennae ; then I 

 blow the wings out on a small globule of water on each side, and, when they are 

 nicely expanded, draw off the water. The wings of Labidura gigantea I have found 

 to be much more delicate, and smaller in proportion, than those of Forficula auricu- 

 laria, although not quite so delicate as those of Labia minor. — Id. 



The Earwig (Forficula auricularia) known to use its Wings. — I observe you say 

 (Zool. 2695) that the common earwig is not known to use its wings. I have had 

 ocular proof to the contrary more than once, by the capture of it by moonlight, at the 

 time I was visiting the trees where I had placed sugar to take moths. I found few 

 moths come when the moon shone ; but wasps, hornets, earwigs, Scolopendrae, Cara- 

 bus exasperatus, and other smaller Carabida; and also other Coleoptera, Acrida varia, 

 Phryganeae, Perlae, &c. In the day-time I have seen flies innumerable, and also 

 butterflies, — as Vanessa Atalanta, &c, — and I once saw a fine specimen of V. Antiopa 

 which had been taken on an empty sugar hogshead, in the town of Bridgwater. I 

 formerly asked the late Mr. House if he had ever seen the common earwig on the 

 wing, and he assured me in the affirmative. — Id. 



[I can feelingly corroborate Mr. Dale's observation as to the earwigs being at- 

 tracted by the sugar. Night after night I have found my sugarings covered with 

 earwigs, and nothing else ; but I always supposed these insects had crawled up the 

 trunks. I shall be much obliged for more communications on this subject. — E. N.~] 



