7060 Insects. 



T. pseudo •bombycella larva, only contained a small piece of lichen, four females of D. 

 maiginepunctella, and the cases from which the aforesaid females had emerjred. On 

 the 29th I took the jar down for the purpose of mounting the females upon card, when, 

 to my surprise, I found that the T. pseudo-bombycella larva had devoured them, and 

 on closer inspection I observed it had decorated the top part of its case with the skins 

 of its victims. In order, if possible, to observe its carnivorous propensity, I placed it 

 together with a dead Micropteryx purpurella in a pill-box, and, upon opening the 

 box at about ^ past 4 p. m., I perceived it had got the dead M. purpurella in its jaws, 

 and was eating it. On the 7th inst. I put four more larvae into a jar along with a dead 

 house-fly and a woodlouse. One larva instantly commenced operations upon the 

 stomach of the woodlouse, where it remained until I unfortunately disturbed it on the 

 evening of the 9lh inst. The other larvse, however, evinced no desire to eat either the 

 lichen or the insects, but crawled up the side of the jar, and being full-fed spun up. — 

 Charles Healy ; 74, Napier Street, Hoxton, iV., May 14, 1860. 



Food-plant of (Ecophora iripuncta. — In answer to one of Mr. Miller's inquiries 

 respecting the habits of the various Micros mentioned by him, I beg to inform him 

 that both Mr. D'Orville, of Alphington, and myself bred (Ecophora tripuncta. The 

 larvas were found by Mr. D'Orville feeding on a bunch of dried mint, hung up in an 

 out house. Mr. D'Orville very kindly gave me some of the pupae, but I had not the 

 larvae. I have no doubt but Mr. D'Orville can furnish us with a description of the 

 larvae. The habits of this species appear to resemble very closely that of Endrosis 

 fenestrella in eating the leaves and stems of dried plants, or, in fact, being omni- 

 vorous. — Edward Parfitt ; Museum, Taunton, May 11, 1860. PS. I find by reference 

 to my notes that QLcophora tripuncta came out June 10, 1859. — E. P. 



On the Capture of Dermaster Blaptoides in Japan. — As I am in a good humour, 

 having just fished up a new genus of Mollusca from a pretty good depth, I will tell 

 you, at the risk of being tiresome, all about it, as I am sure Adam White, at least, will 

 be interested in the nairative. I was walking solitarily, for all hands had gone on 

 board to dinner, along the shell-strewn strand of Taleu-Sima, a jolly little island, not 

 far from the shores of Niphon,— walking along in a brown study, smoking a little clay 

 cutty-pipe, and thinking chiefly of the contempt in which I should be held if some of 

 my " very particular" friends saw me in my disreputable "rig," for my neck was bare, 

 my coat was an old blue serge, and as for my hat it was brown felt, and I must say a 

 " shocking bad one." However, the sun was bright, the clear blue rippling sea was 

 calm, the little island was new and verdurous, and I smoked serenely. On a sudden 

 my abstract downward gaze encountered a grotesque Coleopteron, in a suit of black, 

 stalking slowly and deliberately among the drift-wood at my feet, stepping cautiously 

 and delicately over the spillican twigs, like a Catholic priest in a crowded thorough- 

 jare. At once I knew my Coleopterous acquaintance to be Dermaster Blaptoides, for 

 although my eyes are small, yet I have been assured by a young lady friend of mine, 

 sometimes irreverently called " Polly," that they are penetrating, and my friend Adam 

 White, when he warned me not to neglect my " Carabs," had sent me a rough outjine 

 of the " cwrpus" of Dermaster. So I carefully lifted my unresisting sable friend from 

 his native soil, and, after giving him a good long stare, I deposited him in a bottle. 

 From his name and appearance I judged him to be cousin to Blaps, and I turned over 

 the rock-weed for his brothers and other relations, but though Helops was there, Der- 

 master was not. Puzzled, but not baflled, I conceived his tastes might be more 

 particular, so I ascended the sleep green sides of the island, and cast about for rotten 



