23 



of colcoptera known to be frequenters of granaries, in addition 

 to the two Calandras, and many of them doubtless little less 

 voracious than the weevils themselves. Mr. Perkins also stated it 

 as his opinion that the damage to the grain was quite as much due 

 to the heat and fermentation generated by the immense numbers 

 of larvae and their frass, as to the actual consumption of the 

 insects ; the more so, as it has invariably been noticed that the 

 corn is more injured in and near the centre of the pile, where the 

 heat is greatest, than at the outside. 



The result of collective observations appears to show that nearly 

 half the grain in the country is either destroyed or rendered unfit 

 for human food by these little pests, and it is by such patient in- 

 vestigation as I have briefly described that we may hope eventually 

 to discover a remedy for this really awful scourge, and have an 

 answer for those unsympathetic friends who want to know what is 

 the end of all this catching, and setting, and breeding, and putting 

 away into cabinets, and who is any the better for it. 



It may be well, perhaps, just to mention here the most interest- 

 ing exhibitions of the year : — 



Mr. Ficklin, an unnamed Eupithecia, taken by his brother in 



Devonshire ; probably new to Britain. 

 Mr. Wellman, Boletobia fnliginaria, one specimen of this rare 

 geometer taken in a warehouse near the Thames. Acid- 

 alia contiguaria, and some fine bred specimens of Agrotis 

 Ashworthii, and Eupithecia togata. 

 Mr. Williams, also a specimen of B. Fuliginaria, one of two 



taken on a wharf. 

 Mr. Elisha, a pair of the rare Noctua, Pachetra leucophoea, 

 taken in copula on a fir tree at Box Hill, and with the 

 ultimate results of which I am not acquainted. Several 

 species of Tineina, including both larvae and imagines 

 of the scarce and pretty Nemotois Schiffermillerella. 

 Mr. Billups, several examples (170 species) of Ichneumonidae, 

 Also the water beetles, Hydrous caraboides with nest, 

 showing position of ova, and female Spercheus emargi- 

 natus carrying egg-bags. Pentodon punctatus, a fine 



